asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if any interdepartmental group is considering the implications of the diminishing support for the CAP in the EEC and the consequent reduction in Community financial aid for Irish agriculture and the action, if any, that will be taken in the remaining period of the Irish Presidency of the EC to protect our national interest in this area.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Common Agricultural Policy.
2.
I do not accept the implication in the Deputy's question that there is a diminishing support for the Common Agricultural Policy, as such, which is recognised by all member states as being the one fully developed EEC integration policy. There are, however as in the past, criticisms of various aspects of the policy and increased pressure in regard to the cost of the CAP.
The policy of the Government, as has been made clear, is to maintain intact the principles and mechanisms of the CAP and this policy will be pursued during the Irish Presidency of the Council.
There is frequent consultation on an ongoing basis in interdepartmental groups and otherwise on all activities in the European Communities, including developments in the agricultural sphere.
Does the Minister not accept that the CAP is under considerable attack in the European Community as instanced by the desire of the parliament to transfer funding, which would normally go to the farm fund, to the general reserve so that it will not be committed to the farm fund? Is this not a very serious development from our point of view? What steps are the Government taking to ensure that the CAP is maintained in its present form in future?
As the Deputy correctly points out there has been a suggestion that the CAP is under some attack, which is described as diminishing support for the policy. I do not think it is suggested in any reasonable quarters that the CAP should be altered. I believe what is spoken about is so called "reforms". The Government are not opposed to improvements but they cannot agree to any interference whatever with the principles of the CAP. This Government as well as previous Governments are continuing to ensure the unassailability of the principles in the CAP.
Would the Minister not accept that reforms which would involve a change in the funding of the farm fund must be considered a very basic attack on the whole principle of the CAP?
I do not agree with the Deputy. There is absolutely no suggestion from any responsible quarter that the CAP should be radically altered. It is fair to say that Ireland is in the van of that philosophy and will continue to protect to the utmost the integrity of the CAP.
Is the Minister living in a dream world? Has he read the Commission's proposals? Is he aware of the proposal to abandon intervention of beef for a large part of the year and the proposal to impose such a substantial levy on milk products as to be a major disincentive to the further expansion of output and of the utilisation of the capacity of our land, which is one of the major advantages of membership of the Community? Is he aware that we paid the price in industrial jobs and it is now being proposed by the Commission that we lose the benefits that should compensate for that? Is the Minister aware of none of this?
I am aware of all of this.
One would not know from the Minister's last answer.
That is a matter of interpretation by Deputy FitzGerald. I am very well aware of the Commission's proposals. It is a matter for the Commission to make proposals. Proposals from the Commission, as has been stated in regard to certain products and surplus, notably the milk sector, are expected to be put forward in the very near future. As I have already pointed out in reply to a previous supplementary question, it will be the Government's intention in this regard to safeguard the interests of the Irish farmers against any erosion of the CAP. They are very strong in that regard.
Would the Minister agree, looking at Commissioner Gundelach's latest suggestions and the attitudes of some of the major member countries, as well as the recent vote in the European Parliament, that in fact, from a national point of view, we should be now constructively considering what appears to be an inevitable change in the structure of the present CAP?
I accept that and we are keeping a very close eye on the situation. The Government have taken and will take every opportunity to indicate their views in relation to the CAP.