Deputy J. Walsh has been given permission to put a question to the Minister for Agriculture.
Private Notice Question. - Shortfall in EC Funding.
I would like to ask the Minister for Finance if he would make up the shortfall ——
Your question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Deputy.
Has it been transferred from the Minister for Finance to the Minister for Agriculture?
Yes, at my request.
I would like to ask the Minister for Agriculture if he would make up the shortfall resulting from the fact that the EC are withholding £3 million in payments due to Ireland for the month of December 1984, if he will allow various schemes to continue at their present level of subsidisation, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under Community law it would be illegal for me to make up any shortfall in EC funds due to Ireland in the coming months. Due to Community budgetary constraints the Commission have reduced by 20 per cent the advances for December for Ireland in common with other member states. This reduction will result in a shortfall for Ireland of some £15 million to £20 million. Where possible payments in full will continue to be made to farmers in respect of various schemes, but payments to traders and other producers of export refunds etc. may have to be reduced having regard to the level of available funds. The actual amount available will not be known until later this month.
Would the Minister not agree that this problem arose because of the incompetence of the Department of Agriculture in submitting inaccurate figures for our milk super-levy? Would he finally admit that our milk producers will have to pay for this error?
That is an incorrect assumption. Unfortunately this has been normal practice in the Community in recent years. Over the last few years the Community have had budgetary problems towards the end of each year.
I am not happy with that reply.
That is a fact.
This problem would not have arisen if it had not been for the inadequate figures submitted for our milk super-levy programme. The Minister is directly responsible for what he admitted will be reduced schemes subsidised by the EC, and Irish producers will suffer an even greater shortfall in January if he does not tidy up this mess.
The Deputy does not appear to have heard my answer to his question.
It is difficult enough to hear the Minister, perhaps if he spoke up a little ——
If the Deputies would stop shouting they might hear the Minister more easily.
If the Deputy did not hear he should have requested me to repeat the answer, which I will do gladly.
Once should be enough to hear a reply. We have a great deal of important business to get through today.
(Interruptions.)
I appeal to Deputies not to waste time.
Deputy Walsh said he did not hear my reply and I offered to repeat it.
Read it slowly and clearly so that we can get on with the business of the House. The Minister should not follow the example of his Taoiseach by muttering and mumbling.
There is no need to be so prickly. I offered to repeat my answer to the Deputy's question.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
I am trying to facilitate Deputy Walsh. I said the reduction was applicable to all states in the Community and the across the board reduction was approximately 20 per cent. This is due to budgetary constraints within the Community.
I am not satisfied with that reply and I would like to raise the matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.