asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the terms of the decision reached by the Council of Minister on 24th June, 1975, allowing import of farm produce to the European Community from the Maghreb countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports from Maghreb Countries.
21.
In the context of the Community's current negotiations with certain countries in the Mediterranean Basin, including the Maghreb countries, the Council of Ministers, in the course of their meeting on 23rd and 24th June, took a number of decisions finalising certain measures relating to the organisation of the markets for a number of agricultural products on which concessions are envisaged for the Mediterranean countries concerned.
The products involved are processed fruit and vegetables, certain fresh citrus and other fruit and wine. The principal measures decided on for processed fruit and vegetables involve the removal of quantitative restrictions on trade with third countries, special import arrangements for a number of sensitive products and a premium for the processing of Community oranges. In the case of fresh fruit the measures include the strengthening of the reference price system in relation to imports of citrus fruit, an increase in the marketing premiums for Community oranges and its extension to lemons. In the wine sector also the reference price system is being strengthened in relation to imports and special distillation facilities are being provided to deal with surpluses which may arise from the more liberal import regime for Maghreb wine.
Would the Minister comment on reports that the Council of Ministers for Agriculture, over which he presided, were resisting some of these proposals? Would he comment on reports that this Council of Ministers resented the intervention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs thereby pressurising the Council of Ministers for Agriculture to come to a decision? Would the Minister also comment on reports of dissatisfaction of some of his colleagues at that intervention?
Most of the comments the Deputy has made are not correct. What happened in this case was that the Council of Foreign Ministers made a decision in relation to an agreement with the Maghreb countries but the real problems in arriving at such an agreement were handed over to the Council of Ministers for Agriculture because two countries, particularly Italy, were seriously affected. The products under discussion, and which form part of this agreement, were grown in the poorer parts of Italy. If there is to be access for these products from the Mediterranean countries, naturally there would be Italian resistance to this unless they get some form of compensation for the producers adversely affected. The President of the Council of Foreign Ministers came down to impress the urgency of reaching agreement. Views were expressed by a number of Ministers at the meeting of the Council of Ministers for Agriculture.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs was told to mind his own business.
It is not true to say that he was told to mind his own business. The Minister for Foreign Affairs was courteously received and, as is the custom of the Council of Ministers for Agriculture, he was given an opportunity to make his case. Views were expressed by Ministers who were concerned about procedures as is part of the democratic procedures.
Does the Minister accept that it is important within the Council of any Ministerial rating, in this case, the Council of Ministers for Agriculture, that he as our Minister, would have the goodwill and support of his colleagues? Does the Minister feel that goodwill or support was compromised by the intervention of the Minister for Foreign Affairs on this occasion? Was the Minister for Foreign Affairs invited to attend by the Council of Ministers for Agriculture? Under what procedures did he attend?
I do not think the presence of the Minister for Foreign Affairs in any way affected adversely relations.
Like the Angel Gabriel.
I should like to mention that we also had a visit on the same occasion by President Ortoli who also spoke.
The Minister will appreciate that President Ortoli represents a different element within the Community, the Commission. The Minister has not answered my question. Was the Minister for Foreign Affairs invited to attend or under what procedures did he intervene?
That is a separate question.
Like he went on the Late Late Show?
There have been a number of joint meetings and a number of interventions of this kind.
The Minister should answer the question correctly.
I always give the maximum amount of information.
Will the agreement with the Maghreb countries have any adverse effect on producers of strawberries or tomatoes here?
Strawberries do not form part of the agreement.