asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action the Government are taking to ensure the immediate release of Irish lorries held up illegally at Le Havre.
Private Notice Questions. - French Blockade of Irish Meat.
The Government, through the Embassy in Paris, are pursuing actively with the French authorities the blockade of consignments of Irish meat at Le Havre to ensure the immediate and safe release of the consignments. The Minister for Agriculture has also raised the matter with his French counterpart.
Will the Minister tell the House how many lorries are involved, the type of meat they are carrying — beef, lamb or pork — and to what countries they are consigned?
My understanding is that there are three lorries involved and two of them are carrying pork. I am not sure what the third lorry is carrying but I believe it is beef. One of them is assigned to France.
What is the total tonnage involved?
I regret I do not have that information.
Is the Minister aware that the trucks referred to were opened illegally by French farmers and that the international seals were interfered with on the trucks? If these incidents took place in the full view of the French police, what does the Minister propose to do about it?
I do not know if the last part of the question is accurate. I am aware that the trucks were opened. We have contacted, through the Paris Embassy, the French authorities and we expect those authorities to ensure that our lorries will get free passage and that the rule of law will be upheld.
It is reliably reported that the French police stood by while French farmers illegally opened the consignment of goods. Does the Minister agree that this is in breach of international law and that it should be pursued very vigorously? Does the Minister know that the Minister for Agriculture said earlier today that he expected the matter would be resolved before lunchtime today, but nothing has been done about it still? I suggest that a special approach be made——
We expected that the lorries would be released today. I understand now that they have not been released. If that situation still exists later today we will take the strongest possible action.
I wish to raise on the Adjournment today the continued delay in the trial of Fr. Niall O'Brien and Fr. Brian Gore and their co-defendants. It is the subject matter of the Private Notice Question which you disallowed.
(Limerick West): I ask permission to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of a Private Notice Question addressed to the Minister for Agriculture on the Government's change of stance in regard to the milk super-levy.
I will communicate with the Deputies.