Ruairí Quinn
Ceist:31 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the programme of work he has planned in the context of Ireland's Presidency of the European Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Irish Presidency of EC.
Mervyn Taylor
Ceist:33 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline his plans for furthering the aims of the Green Presidency of the EC; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 33 together.
The first priority for Ireland's Presidency of the Agriculture Council is to conclude agriculture price fixing before the beginning of the various product marketing years on 1 April. The price proposals have already been given a first hearing in the January and February meetings of Agriculture Ministers and the various elements of the prices package have been examined in detail by the Special Agriculture Committee and the sectoral working groups.
Following the adoption of the prices proposals the Irish Presidency is confident of making substantial progress in the achievement of the internal market in the agriculture sector.
Technical working group discussions on a whole range of Commission proposals such as those in the veterinary, zootechnical, animal welfare and plant health fields have been underway since January and many of these proposals will be adopted by Council by the end of June.
I have given a major importance to proposals being considered of an environmental or green nature. In addition to the animal welfare and plant health measures already mentioned we are taking up discussion of the Commission's proposals in rural development and organic farming. Awaited Commission proposals on food quality and on the use of origin designations will also be examined.
On the wider international matters, the GATT negotiations are now entering a crucial stage and the Irish Presidency will afford Community Agriculture Ministers full opportunity of discussing all the agriculture elements of these important negotiations. The Ministers will want to ensure that the fundamental principles of the CAP are safeguarded and that the incomes of Community producers are not threatened.
Eastern and Central European issues will continue to arise over the coming months and the Presidency was pleased that already at the January Council the question of food aid for Eastern and Central Europe was addressed.