asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries his policy for the protection of the glasshouse industry; and the advice he has to offer in relation to new industries in this field at present under construction.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Glasshouse Industry.
46.
The glasshouse industry is being assisted in a number of ways, such as eligibility for investment aids under the farm modernisation scheme——
(Interruptions.)
——duties and levies on imports of glasshouse products and a seasonal import prohibition on tomatoes from non-EEC sources, as well as the present temporary heating oil subsidy.
(Interruptions.)
Persons at present constructing new glasshouse industries will no doubt have given very careful consideration commercially to all aspects of production and marketing and will have sought appropriate technical guidance from the local horticultural advisory service, my Department and An Foras Talúntais.
I did not get a reply to my question.
The Deputy asked a question and was given an answer.
I have asked supplementaries to which I have not been given any replies. These concerned the farm modernisation scheme.
The Chair is dealing with questions as they appear on the Order Paper. The Deputy will appreciate that what he was doing was giving information to the House.
We do not put down questions for fun; rather, we table them in the interests of our constituents.
I did not hear the reply to Question No. 46.
The Deputy could not hear it while so many others were interrupting.
As the reply to Question No. 46 was not heard, could we have it repeated, please?
Yes. Question No. 46, again, please.
The glass house industry is being assisted in a number of ways, such as eligibility for investment aids under the farm modernisation scheme, duties and levies on imports of glasshouse products and a seasonal import prohibition on tomatoes from non-EEC sources, as well as the present temporary heating oil subsidy.
Persons at present constructing new glasshouse industries will no doubt have given very careful consideration commercially to all aspects of production and marketing and will have sought appropriate technical guidance from the local horticultural advisory service, my Department and An Foras Talúntais.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that people engaged in the glasshouse industry are totally disillusioned by the budget announcement of a subsidy on oil of only 2p per gallon, whereas they were asking for at least 7p per gallon?
That is a separate question.
Would the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary be prepared to reconsider their decision in this regard and give a subsidy of at least 7p per gallon?
Question No. 47.
I want an answer to my question.
The Deputy is giving information to the House.
The Department helped this industry in so far as possible and as was mentioned by Deputy O'Leary there has been a subsidy in respect of oil. I consider this arrangement to be fair and reasonable taking everything into consideration.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the rate of the subsidy is not in keeping with the situation in other European countries? Certainly, it is not in line with the position in England. Would he not agree that in view of the amount of money invested here in the glasshouse industry, a subsidy of more than 2p per gallon on oil was deserved?
The increase in the cost of oil had an impact on all our industrial projects. Some industries got no assistance by way of subsidies on oil. I consider the subsidy in this case to be fair.
Is 2p per gallon a fair subsidy?
The Deputy knows that no Government can give out more than they take in and that there is an obligation to deal with funds equitably. That has been done in this case.
In view of the fact that tomato growing is an industry which is carried on in western counties, can the Parliamentary Secretary say if it is his final word that no further aid will be given to this industry and, if this aid is not sufficient, are the Government prepared to allow the glasshouse industry in Gaeltacht areas to fade out this year?
The Deputy knows well that we cannot enter into an argument at Question Time, that this time is for the purpose of eliciting information.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary reconcile his statement that the aid being given is the best possible with the situation in other EEC countries where greater aid has been given to growers in the glasshouse industry? Would he agree that this situation places our producers at a disadvantage in that they will be faced with unfair competition as a result of these other countries being given greater incentives than are given here? Would he not agree, also, that the delay in announcing this paltry subsidy of 2p per gallon has had a detrimental effect on the industry? Is it fair that such announcements are made by the Department only six months in advance, whereas other countries get a year's advance notice of such plans?
The Deputy is imparting information to the House. Question No. 47, please.
47.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the inadequacy of the oil subsidy provided in the budget for glasshouse owners, he will increase the figure to at least that which operated for the last six months of 1974.
The rate of subsidy provided was as high as considered practicable.
Is that an answer to our supplementaries?
It is an answer to Question No. 47.
We put down questions in order to help our constituents——
The Deputies' questions and supplementaries have been answered.
——arrive at a decision as to what they should do in relation to the glasshouse industry but we have tabled a question that has not been answered.
It was answered.
Is it possible that neither the Minister nor the Parliamentary Secretary has any interest in the glasshouse industry?
That is quite possible.
The Deputies are making statements.
The Parliamentary Secretary should answer the questions.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary any advice to offer people in the glasshouse industry?
Will Deputies please allow Question Time to proceed?
Am I to be allowed ask a supplementary on Question No. 47?
(Interruptions.)
I asked supplementaries on Question No. 46 which were not answered.
The Chair is not allowing any further supplementaries and the Chair is the sole judge of order.
On any question?
(Interruptions.)
On a point of order, Sir, you made a statement. To what does it refer?
It refers to the questions which have already been answered by the Parliamentary Secretary.
The Deputy who put down that question has been refused permission to ask a supplementary.
I said I would allow him a supplementary and Deputy Cunningham is accusing the Chair——
You did not.
—— and has continued to accuse the Chair. This is not the first occasion on which he has done so.
Nor will it be the last.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy R.P. Burke on Question No. 47.
We are getting desperate treatment here.
It is true for the bloody Sunday World article.
Deputy Burke on Question No. 47, a last supplementary question.
On a point of order, I asked a supplementary question——
That is not a point of order.
——on Question No. 46.
The Deputy will resume his seat.
(Interruptions.)
The Deputy will not be allowed to make a statement.
This is answer time as much as Question Time.
Let us have a vote.
Deputy R.P. Burke.
On a point of order, Sir, there is no Deputy on the Government side except the Parliamentary Secretary. We are trying to conduct business——
Deputy R.P. Burke. A supplementary question on Question No. 47.
If we do not get better treatment we will all walk out and leave both of you to have a dialogue.
The only right a Deputy has in this House is to ask a question.
Deputy Burke on Question No. 47.
I want to ask the Leas-Cheann Comhairle——
Deputy Burke on Question 47. Is Deputy Burke going to ask his question?
What further advice has the Parliamentary Secretary for the glasshouse industry——
Will Deputy O'Leary allow Deputy Burke to put his question?
I put down this question and I want an answer from the Parliamentary Secretary.
Deputy O'Leary will resume his seat and allow Deputy Burke to ask his question.
(Interruptions.)
The Parliamentary Secretary is treating the House with contempt.
Deputy O'Leary will resume his seat.
I put down this question in order to get information and I want it from the Parliamentary Secretary.
Deputy O'Leary will resume his seat and allow Deputy Burke to put his question.
I want a reply and——
We have passed Question No. 46 and are now dealing with Question No. 47.
I want the Parliamentary Secretary to give me a good reply to the second part of my question.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary like to name the Deputy? May we have a vote?
Deputy Lemass is not being helpful to the procedure of the House by that kind of remark.
I do not think the Chair is being very helpful.
If 5p were considered necessary as a subsidy for the last six months of 1974, would the Parliamentary Secretary not consider that to offer 2p per gallon for the first six months of 1975, in view of the fact that oil has increased in price since 1974, has no attraction for the glasshouse growers?
When the 5p per gallon for the 1st July to 31st December was announced, it was not proposed to continue the subsidy beyond 31st December. Taking all factors into account, the Government decided to continue a subsidy of 2p per gallon from 1st January to 30th June. Mention was made in the course of supplementaries about what is happening in the two other countries which compete with us so far as tomatoes are concerned, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In the United Kingdom last year they gave 6p per gallon from 1st January to 30th June and 4p per gallon from 1st July to 31st December. There is no oil subsidy being paid in the United Kingdom. The subsidy being paid in the Netherlands at present is 5p per litre, about 3.9p per gallon.
Surely the Parliamentary Secretary is aware that the heating of glasshouses in Holland, for example, is done mostly by natural gas from the North Sea and consequently this is unfair competition for our glasshouse growers. This industry is based mostly in my constituency in County Dublin and this is hitting the income of at least 600 families in the area.
Measures to help the glasshouse industry are not only the oil subsidy but the construction and expansion grants under the farm modernisation scheme, help and advice from the Department's horticultural inspectors and the local horticultural advisory service and the research being carried out by An Foras Talúntais.
They have plenty of advice all right.
Various rates of duty are provided for the different glasshouses—lettuce, tomatoes and so forth.
Question No. 48.
One final supplementary.
The Deputy has already had three.
One final supplementary, please.
I wonder if Deputy Burke would listen to the Chair for a moment. In one hour and 45 minutes we have succeeded in getting through 47 questions.
(Interruptions.)
I think the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will agree that I have not bothered the House this afternoon with a number of supplementaries. In view of the fact that there is a distinct danger for the future of the glasshouse industry in north County Dublin, would the Parliamentary Secretary give an indication of the Government's intentions for the continuation of the small glasshouse growers in that area?
The only assurance I can give the Deputy is the Government's concern generally with this and other industries. The Government are anxious to help all industries. The tomato-growing industry has got special attention and I think it will be agreed——
Twopence per gallon is not special attention.
The United Kingdom found it necessary to withdraw its subsidy altogether from the 1st January this year.
Twopence per gallon is no help. It is the kiss of death.
I am satisfied.
48.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will state the amount of oil subsidy paid to Irish tomato producers; and if he will compare it with that of other EEC countries.
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
|
Country |
Rate of Subsidy |
|
|
1974 |
1975 |
|
|
Ireland |
5p per gallon from 1st July to 31st December |
2p per gallon from 1st January to 30th June |
|
United Kingdom |
6p per gallon from 1st January to 30th June and 4p per gallon from 1st July to 31st December |
None |
|
Netherlands |
3 cents per liter (about 2p per gallon) |
5 cents per litre (about 3.9p per gallon) |
|
Other EEC Countries |
No information available. Only Netherlands and United Kingdom supplies compete with Irish produce on the home and United Kingdom markets). |
Can the Parliamentary Secretary confirm that the subsidy paid to horticultural growers here is less than that obtaining in any other country in the EEC?
I have given the information in my reply: 2p per gallon in Ireland, none in the United Kingdom and 3.9p per gallon in The Netherlands.
Is that the full tabular statement?
There is no information available for other EEC countries. Only The Netherlands and the United Kingdom supplies compete with Irish produce on the home and the United Kingdom markets.
Every time the Government get in trouble they quote Europe as the problem.
Question No. 49.
They now turn around and say that the UK are giving less subsidy than we are.