Austin Deasy
Ceist:66 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the EC has made any moves to ease access for farm produce from Eastern Bloc countries into the Community; and if he will outline Ireland's attitude in this regard.
Written Answers. - Access for Eastern Bloc Farm Produce.
In response to the serious economic situation prevailing at present in certain of the emerging democracies in Eastern Europe the Community has been considering various measures to alleviate their immediate problems and to assist these countries to adjust successfully. A number of food aid measures have already been agreed for certain of these countries and some access concessions have also been granted in particular in regard to ducks, geese, pigmeat and their products originating in Hungary and Poland.
My principal concern is to ensure that concessions create the least disruption for Community agriculture. To this end I will be pressing for appropriate Community actions and market supports to sustain producers within the EC should any difficulties be attributable to concessionary imports from Eastern Europe.