With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose taking Questions Nos. 32 and 33 together.
Representations have been made to me by the poultry processing industry to the effect that the industry is operating at a competitive disadvantage visà-vis Northern Ireland processors by reason of lower production costs in Northern Ireland. This is a fact; but taking all factors into account, including the MCA charge on exports to here, the margin of advantage to Northern Ireland processors marketing poultry meat in the Republic is not substantial. As my predecessor discovered, there is no action open to the Irish authorities under EEC conditions to establish full equality of broiler production costs North and South. I may add that only limited quantities of poultry meat are being supplied to the market here from Northern Ireland and these have not shown any increase in recent months.