asked the Minister for Agriculture the estimated cost of MCAs under CAP in the EEC as follows: (a) the cost falling on Irish produce exported in each year under the system and in 1983 up to 1 July; (b) the total cost of the MCAs or EEC expenditure in each year; and (c) the likely effect of the latest proposals on Irish produce in 1983 if they had been in operation this year.
Written Answers. - Estimated Cost of MCAs
425.
(a) The following amounts represent MCA charges in respect of exports of CAP produce from Ireland from 1973 to 30 June 1983. The figures relate to the period when the MCAs were collected.
1973, £144,000
1974, £2 million
1975, £16.7 million
1976, £39.4 million
1977, £50 million
1978, £21.8 million
1979, £6 million
1980, £96,000
1981, £81,500
1982, £39,000
1983 (to 30 June), £2.2 million
(b) The net cost (i.e. the amount by which MCA expenditure exceeded MCA receipts) to the EEC budget for 1973-1983 was as follows:
1973, 140 MECU (70 million)
1974, 154 MECU (£78 million)
1975, 336 MECU (£188 million)
1976, 438 MECU (£272 million)
1977, 989 MECU (£647 million)
1978, 880 MECU (£583 million)
1979, 708 MECU (£474 million)
1980, 299 MECU (£201 million)
1981, 238 MECU (£164 million)
1982, 313 MECU (£216 million)
1983 (Estimated) 501 MECU (£357 million)
(c) Irish negative MCAs introduced following the EMS realignment on 21 March 1983 were eliminated on 23 May 1983 and would not, therefore, have been affected by the Commission proposals. The dismantling of positive MCAs as provided for in the Commission proposals would have improved the conditions of access for Irish agricultural products to the Dutch, German and UK markets.