asked the Minister for Agriculture if he proposes to recommend a central marketing agency for exports of all agricultural products.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Central Export Marketing Agency.
4.
Exports of the main agricultural products, namely cattle, sheep, beef, lamb, dairy products and pigmeat are already being promoted or carried on by centralised bodies and assistance to exports generally is provided by Córas Tráchtála. There is no evidence that overall export performance would be improved by the establishment of yet another body. It should, of course, be borne in mind that under EEC rules it is not possible to confine exports to a particular body and so any centralised exporting enterprise in any sector would have to be acceptable to a substantial proportion of exporting interests in that sector.
Would the Minister not agree that unless we change drastically our lines of production we shall have to look outside of the EEC for our markets? Does the Minister think we can afford to continue as we are going? Is it not an established fact that in the Third World they prefer to trade with a strong trading group?
That is a slightly different question. I agree we need to diversify more and have a greater range of goods. We have too many items which do not stand up very well. We have that problem at the moment with butter and skimmed milk powder. There are a number of agencies. There is CBF to market beef and lamb, Bord Bainne to market milk products, the Pigs and Bacon Commission to market pork and bacon. We have a very wide range. Quite recently I was considering an extension of the type of exporting boards involved, that is a separate board for sheep meat which is becoming very important. At the moment sheep meat and beef are lumped together and dealt with by CBF. It is worth considering whether it might be better to have two separate boards. The Deputy made the point about other countries wanting to deal with State agencies. That is true and that is why we send bodies like CBF and Bord Bainne abroad. They are as close as one can get to State agencies in a free enterprise democracy and they are doing a very good job.
If the Minister was able to get all those groups together in all possibility he could cut out a great deal of duplication and do things more cheaply and more effectively and that not alone in regard to agricultural commodities but in regard also to manufactured goods.
We might find the central marketing agency becoming so large that it might lose its sharpness. If we want a co-ordinating body, all we have to look at is Córas Tráchtála. They assist each of the marketing bodies.
The Minister made the point that assistance is made available to those bodies by CTT. Will he give the House information on the amount of funds made available?
I have not that information.
Is the Minister admitting that we would be better with a fragmented marketing structure? CTT have had a tremendous effect in marketing our goods on a worldwide basis but the other agencies dealing with agricultural products have failed. I would have to agree with my colleague, Deputy Leonard——
That is not a question. The Deputy may tell Deputy Leonard that outside the House.
We need an overall organisation to market our agricultural produce, perhaps under the aegis of CTT. I said this before and the Minister agreed with me.
I am somewhat lost with regard to what the Deputy has said — he said so much. CTT are an umbrella organisation who deal with all aspects of industry and the economy. They help bodies that deal with agricultural commodities and I have never heard any complaint from the State agencies dealing with agriculture with regard to the activities of CTT. They have been very helpful.
(Limerick West): Will the Minister consider asking the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to strengthen our embassies abroad and give them a function with regard to marketing so that they will be in a position to market our products, particularly those relating to agriculture?
The Deputy will be glad to know I have made this point repeatedly to the Taoiseach and to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
(Limerick West): I hope with some success.
The Minister has said that Bord Bainne co-ordinate the marketing of our dairy products and CBF deal with the marketing of our beef and livestock products. I should like to know what role CBF play with regard to the marketing of beef and livestock overseas? What role, if any, have they played in ensuring that positive submissions have been made by Irish exporters to get maximum advantage of all markets and particularly Third World markets?
I do not think that was specifically mentioned in the question but, for the general information of the Deputy, I would point out that CBF have been very successful in identifying and following up markets and helping Irish companies that have not got the appropriate marketing expertise. I do not want to be specific but I have seen their activities at first-hand and I know they are most effective.