asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the full text of his agreement with France on Irish lamb imports.
13.
Ceisteann—Questions. Oral Answers. - Lamb Exports to France.
12.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the steps that have been taken to ensure that standards for lamb exported to France shall meet departmental requirements.
14.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if an investigation has been carried out to ascertain who was responsible for the reported failure to fulfil specifications in recent lamb exports to France; and the punitive action, if any, that can be taken against the persons or firms responsible.
15.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the fact that the present gross abuse in failing to honour the specifications of lamb exports to France in the recent lamb export pact is a repetition of similar incidents some years ago which led to the breakdown in this trade, he will take whatever powers are needed to penalise heavily those engaged in these practices which are so damaging to the State.
16.
asked the Minister for Agriculture why hogget ewe carcases will not in future qualify for special stamp for carcases suitable to the French market.
17.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the nature of the programme of advice to farmers on breeding and feeding lambs suitable to the French market; when it will commence; who will carry it out; the amount of money to be allocated to it; and when he expects it to be completed.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose taking Questions Nos. 12 to 17, inclusive, together. There is no formal agreement with the French authorities. Following consultation with producers and carcase lamb exporters only high quality carcase lamb of good conformation and within a specified weight range is being exported to France. Having considered the development of this trade during January and February and after further consulting with representatives of producers, exporters and CBF I had stricter quality standards formulated which are being enforced uniformly by my Department's veterinary staff permanently based at exporting factories. The special stamp applied to carcases suitable for the French trade is not being applied to hogget ewe carcases as it is generally agreed that hogget ewes should be retained for breeding purposes. It is my aim and that of producers' and exporters' organisations that the lamb trade with France should develop on the basis of a top-quality product and I intend to ensure that the achievement of this aim is not prejudiced by the export of substandard carcases by any exporter.
My Department's technical advisers are conducting meetings with county committees of agriculture advisory services to establish patterns of breeding and feeding designed to produce lambs suitable for the French market.
Is the agreement in writing and, if not, why not?
It must be.
The Minister has answered Question No. 12 with the others and has not stated this.
The question does not ask whether it is in writing.
Perhaps I might be able to help the Minister by saying the Minister has said it is not an agreement in fact. It is an understanding.
A gentlemen's agreement.
Some gentlemen.
At some stage in the near future will the Minister consider classifications for all sheepmeat leaving the country such as we will have for beef very soon? Would not that be the answer instead of discriminating in favour of one market and saying only the best is good enough for the French but anything at all is good enough for the Belgians, or the British?
This recommendation has been made before.
Or the Tunisians, or the Libyans.
I am sure if it is found necessary it will be done.
Does the Minister consider it satisfactory from the national point of view that this agreement is not in writing and that there is no definite text of what is in the agreement?
I did not say it is not in writing.
Surely the Minister must know.
Deputy Clinton said it is not in writing.
The Minister does not know whether an agreement entered into is in writing.
That is not asked in the question.
The Minister does not know.
The Minister cannot have every title of information at his disposal.
If we are talking about an international agreement and the Minister does not know whether it is in writing, that is not a little of information. It is essential information.
What did the Minister mean by saying there was no formal agreement? Perhaps that would throw some light on the question.
I said there is no formal agreement with the French authorities.
What does that indicate?
It would probably indicate that there is no written agreement.
Does the Minister accept that in fact there is not a written agreement?
I am going on the reply I gave.
Accepting that that is the situation, does the Minister feel that is a satisfactory way to have business conducted between two nations?
It is working satisfactorily at present so far as the sheep farmers are concerned.
Does the Minister consider it satisfactory that this agreement provides only for the export of whole carcases and does not provide for any added value for portion controlled exports of broken down lamb which give more employment?
Apparently the whole carcases is all we can export at present. I do not think there is any proposal to export as the Deputy has indicated.
Since the agreement is not in writing and there is a possibility therefore of its being renegotiated at any time, would the Minister consider making representations to the French Government to allow in processed lamb products as well as whole carcases?
That would be very desirable from an employment point of view, and I am sure that angle will be investigated.