asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he satisfied himself that the recent negotiations, which have taken place by the Council of Ministers to allow 250,000 tons of New Zealand butter into the Community over the next few years is in the best interest of dairy producers in Ireland, taking into consideration the serious restrictions there are on increasing quotas on Irish dairy farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - New Zealand Butter.
12.
At this stage, the EC Commission has merely made a proposal to the Council of Ministers in regard to the level of access for New Zealand butter to the UK market in each of the next four years. The Council has not yet taken any decision on the proposal. In my approach to this whole question, I will, of course, be taking into account the restriction which has been placed on milk output by the Community's milk quota system.
This issue is complicated by the fact that at political level commitments have been made in the past regarding continued access for New Zealand butter. The most notable of these was at the European Council meeting held in Dublin in March 1975 which made more specific the commitments originally included in Protocol 18 of the Act of Accession.
In the discussions to date in the Council of Ministers on the recent proposals, I have made it clear that, in the light of current circumstances on the community and world dairy markets, the package proposed is over-generous to New Zealand. I am seeking a solution which is considerably better balanced.