asked the Minister for Agriculture the action he proposes to take against the Canadian Government because of the shelving of the agreement on the export of beef from Ireland and his proposals to have the situation rectified.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef Exports to Canada.
9.
Mr. O'Keeffe
The agreement between the European Commission and the Canadian authorities on a quota of 10,668 tonnes per annum for Community beef exports to Canada over the next three years was reached in the knowledge that Canadian law provided for objection and that, in the event of an objection, implementation of the agreement would be held up pending examination by a tribunal. We have already expressed our concern at what has transpired to the Canadian authorities. I have also been in communication with Vice-President Andriessen of the Commission and my Department have impressed on the Commission the need to ensure that the Community's position is properly safeguarded. We will continue to press for an early decision on the Canadian side and in the event of an unfavourable decision we will seek to have the matter followed up in GATT.
(Limerick West): Is the Minister aware that this country will suffer most seriously as a result of this embargo? Is he hopeful of a successful outcome?
I am well aware that the issue affects us more than anybody else. We export about 70 per cent of the beef that goes to Canada from the Community. The Danes export the bulk of the remainder. We are the people who initiated moves by the Commission when the Canadians have taken action. The Canadians have an import law whereby they can hold up imports and the matter is placed before a tribunal which has to report within 120 days. It was late in March when the Canadian Cattlemen's Association objected to the EC imports of beef. We have contacted the Canadian charge d'affaires in Dublin and also asked the Commission to put pressure on the Canadian Government to see that the decision is taken within the 120-day period.
Will the Minister ensure that the EC take steps to limit imports to the Community from Canada, in view of the action they have taken?
That is what we advocated last year when a similar type of problem arose. It was not an objection by the trade in Canada but a curtailment by the Canadian Government. The EC by their action at that time had the Canadian objections removed. I will be pressing the EC immediately, if the Canadian decision is not in our favour, to do likewise this year. I am hopeful that the decision will be in our favour. The EC export to Canada constitutes only 1 per cent of Canadian production and they are importing much more from countries such as the US, Austrialia and New Zealand.
What is the balance of trade as between the EC and Canada?
I am not aware of that.