Vol. 408 No. 9
27 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether this country is running out of cold storage space for holding intervention foodstuffs, because of the high level of stocks in intervention; if there are plans to hire cold storage space abroad or to place food in freezer ships; if the Government have any plans to reduce the level of stocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I can confirm that the situation with regard to the availability of cold storage space for both butter and beef sold into intervention is giving some cause for concern having regard to the current high level of stocks, continuing needs for current intake and the low level of disposal by way of sales in the past six months. By the end of May, some 27,500 tonnes of Irish intervention butter will be stored abroad and some 14,000 tonnes of butter will be stored in two refrigerated ships in Irish waters.
Discussions are in progress with the cold storage interests with a view to establishing what extra capacity can be created to meet medium term needs.
Intervention product is the property of the EC and Ireland has consistently urged the EC to legislate for the sale and-or disposal of product out of intervention.
I take it that we no longer have any storage space and that we have to send 27,000 tonnes of butter abroad. Does this mean extra cost of storage? Have we to pay for the storage of the 27,000 tonnes abroad? Are our costs increasing while we look for extra storage space in more remote places such as ships, etc? What are the increased costs?
I have not got that specific information. The Deputy will have to put down a separate question on it, but as I said in my reply, there has been a build up of stocks for various and varying reasons and it is causing concern.
The most interesting part of the Minister's reply is the information that 14,000 tonnes of butter was going to be stored in two ships. Is this about to happen? This seems to be a reflection of what happened in the early seventies when we had ships moored in Bantry Bay. It is incredible to think we could have a repetition. When will these ships take the intervention stocks on board? Where will they be located?
I have not got that information with me but, as the Deputy will appreciate from his time in the Department of Agriculture, the problems with the present build up of stocks are a cause of concern. Naturally there is an accumulating cost. The possibility of disposing of some of these stocks naturally will have to be considered.
In view of this enormous increase in stocks in intervention and storage and the possibility of it going bad at some stage, is the Minister for Agriculture and Food pressing within Europe that these stocks be used now for the starving people in Africa whom we see practically every night on TV and about whom people all over the country are so concerned? They will be even more concerned when they hear that all our stores are packed with intervention food and that it would be much cheaper for ourselves and the EC to give it away to those who are starving.
One can glean from the fact that the concern about the build up of stocks is such that the matter of their disposal is under consideration at present, but I would be getting into the realms of anticipation if I say what might or might not be done with them. The cost of transport and the suitability of the product for use in particular areas where there is a need for food must be considered. The EC Agriculture Commissioner referred to this point in the last few days. Consider frozen meat, for instance, taken to remote areas, its suitability for use there and the cost of getting it to these locations. These are the logistical problems. To say we have a huge volume of stock here yet people in other parts of the globe are starving tends to simplify the point. On a superficial examination one can see the contradictions in the two situations. It is not as simple as the Deputy implies.
My question is on the same lines. In the light of the international tragedies, surely it is not beyond the wit of people in this country, particularly in answer to all who have contributed so generously to fund raising events, to see that our Government endeavour to arrange that these extra foodstuffs be transferred. We claim our foodstuffs to be of excellent quality, and surely they must be better than grass, or nothing at all, which are the alternatives for many people who face starvation at the moment.
Naturally any product that would lend itself to easy transport and easy distribution and use at the point of destination should be transferred from the point of plenty to the point of scarcity, but it is not that simple. There are problems. The whole question of a stock build up is under consideration at present having regard to the position in the industry and the storage costs involved.
Is it not scandalous that our stores of intervention food are overflowing while, as Deputy Mac Giolla said, millions of people are starving? The sight of ships at anchor in Irish bays with additional food storage will aggravate the dreadful public perception of this situation. I do not think it will be acceptable. It would be far better if the Minister said to the EC: "Give that food away to the starving millions in the world rather than have it there going to waste in full sight of the general public in this country." Because eventually it will either be sold to the Russians for 10p a pound or it will be dumped as unfit for human consumption. Is it not a source of great scandal?
I accept there is an obvious contradiction. It is a question of having supply and plenty in one location and a scarcity in another. Whether the product is suitable for use at these destinations of scarcity and getting it from these shores to the parts of the globe where it is needed are the problems which must be overcome.
If somebody buys it there is no problem in getting it there.
That disposes of questions for today.
On a point of order. I was insulted a half an hour ago when I rang the Land Registry office and was told I had to put my query through an answering machine. We are all aware of the very intricate cases that have to be dealt with in the Land Registry.
It is worse than the faceless civil servant.
It is confined to the five Connacht counties. Can I appeal to an able Minister for Justice who is in charge of this area to cut out that carry on straight away
I think the Deputy has made his point. It should not lead to disorder.
Maybe the Minister for Finance would do something about it.
