(Limerick West),Mr. Leonard and Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has any plans in his Department to procure new markets for pigmeat in view of the present surplus; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
16.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Pigmeat Markets.
15.
Mr. Noonan
Mr. Noonan
(Limerick West) and Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Agriculture the proposals his Department have to curtail the importation of pigmeat in view of the financial crisis facing many pig producers in the country.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together.
Centralised export marketing of pigmeat has for many years been the function of the Pigs and Bacon Commission which is now controlled by the industry. The commission have had considerable success in developing exports to Japan and sales to that country this year may well reach a record level of up to 15,000 tonnes.
Because of the difficult market situation in the EEC, increased export refunds have been secured this year as well as a scheme of aid for private storage of pigmeat. These measures are helping to relieve the situation.
As regards curtailing imports of pigmeat, economic restrictions on imports from other member states are not permissible under EEC rules.
Has the Minister explored the possibility of securing markets elsewhere?
That would not be the job of my Department. Primarily it is the job of the industry itself. The Japanese market has been a very welcome additional outlet.
Would the Minister not agree he has a responsibility since the industry falls within the ambit of his Department?
I am concerned with production, not with marketing.
Would he not agree he has a responsibility to assist and encourage those responsible for marketing?
We give the exporting agencies, which are all private firms, every assistance.
The Minister says we have a successful marketing plan. Will his Department assist in the further development of such markets or does he expect people to come here looking for pigmeat?
We always give every possible assistance and advice to the industry. I might point out that the Minister for Industry and Energy is going to Japan tomorrow and I will specifically ask him to see if he can further improve the volume of pork exports to Japan. We have an opening there at the moment because of the foot and mouth disease problem in Denmark as a result of which the Japanese are not taking pork from Denmark. It has given us this opening and I am glad to say that the Irish bacon curers are taking full advantage of this opening and are doing tremendous business with Japan.
Mr. Leonard
Would the Minister agree that in the situation which pertains at present, when we are importing, in pork and bacon, the produce of about 130,000 pigs per year and in addition there is unofficial importation of pigs which is causing serious problems in the trade, these are areas which need to be examined very closely in regard to production, not marketing?
The Deputy did not mention it but I presume he is referring to smuggling. It has been there as long as the Border has been there and will be there for many years to come. The particular trade which the Deputy has mentioned is referred to as the pig carousel trade, that is, the pigs go back over again and in doing so get the advantage of MCAs. Every agency and every Government have tried to eliminate that, but unsuccessfully. I am afraid that people in the Deputy's part of the country are particularly adept at smuggling — no offence to the Deputy.
On a point of order. The Minister said the Border will be there for many years to come.
That is not a point of order, whatever else it is.
I would like to ask the Minister in respect of the difficulties that the Danes find themselves in, is it his intention to explore other possibilities for markets which the Danes held?
It is our intention to explore every possibility. Unfortunately, the pig industry in the EEC generally is extremely depressed at the moment, more so in Britain than here, but it is a very severe problem and we are doing everything we can. The pig industry is by nature cyclical and this is one of the depressions.
Could the Minister tell us from statistics in the Department the number of pigs produced in the country? The Minister must know the number of pigs being slaughtered, because slaughterings are monitored and supervised. He should be able to calculate the number of pigs being imported illegally. Has the Minister considered the implications of this for the pig industry? Everybody who produces a pig is being levied to support the sale of pigs on the export market. Therefore, smuggling has severe and unfair implications for farmers who are not involved in smuggling.
I do not have the overall figures because they are not requested in the original question. However, I have some statistics. It is estimated that 588,372 live pigs were imported from Northern Ireland in 1982. However, it is estimated that real imports amounted to less than half of this number because of the Border carousel trade to which I have referred.
The carousel trade only takes place when MCAs are involved. It is not the worst thing that could happen.
Is the Minister satisfied that co-ordination between production and monitoring is satisfactory?
I have reservations about the quality of marketing in this country and it is something that I discussed as late as yesterday afternoon in another context. I am concerned that we should be able to improve marketing methods for bacon and pork.
17.
asked the Minister for Agriculture (i) the number of pigs slaughtered in Irish bacon factories in 1982 and the individual number for each factory; and (ii) the value of these slaughterings.
The number of pigs slaughtered in licensed bacon factories in 1982 was 2.1 million with an estimated value of some £164 million. It would not be appropriate for me to give details about individual factories. I hope the Deputy appreciates my position, that this information about individual factories is confidential.
Could the Minister tell us what proportion of the pigs slaughtered were exported? Could he further tell us what role CBF is playing in the marketing of pigmeat?
I am afraid I have not got the answer to either of those questions, which were not asked in the original question.
As the man with responsibility for CBF surely the Minister is able to tell us what role it is playing in the marketing of all livestock products?
If I had been asked, I certainly would have had the information but it is not asked in the question or related to the question.
It is a separate question.