asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the fact that one of the consistently reaffirmed aims of the Common Agricultural Policy is to ensure an adequate supply of foodstuffs at reasonable prices to Community consumers, he has any specific proposal in this matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foodstuffs Supply.
8.
In fixing agricultural prices for the Community regard is had to all the objectives of the common agricultural policy as set out in Article 39 of the Treaty of Rome. These provide not only for ensuring that supplies of food reach consumers at reasonable prices but also for ensuring a fair standard of living for the agricultural community, improved agricultural productivity, the stability of markets and the availability of supplies within the Community.
When fixing prices, therefore, the Council of Ministers endeavours to achieve a fair balance between these various objectives and, of course, in order to ensure adequate supplies of foodstuffs for consumers, it is necessary that producers, like workers generally, be given a fair reward for their labour after allowing for rising costs of production. In certain cases the full impact of agricultural price increases is reduced as in the case of consumer subsidies for butter and premiums for beef.