Vol. 426 No. 7
130 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, he is taking at EC level to ensure the survival of the pig production sector; and if his attention has been drawn to the current historically low prices of pig meat.
173 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he or the EC Commission have to introduce an APS scheme for the pigmeat sector.
174 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he or the EC Commission have to increase export refunds in relation to pigmeat.
176 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, Córas Beostoic agus Feola have to ensure there is some recovery in pig meat prices through stronger promotion, at home and abroad, of Irish pigmeat products.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 173, 174, and 176 together.
Because of the current depressed state of the EC market for pigmeat, I have raised in the Council of Ministers the question of an increase in the level of export refunds and the introduction of a scheme of aid for private storage. The Commission have undertaken to monitor the market situation closely with a view to taking whatever remedial action is necessary.
Coras Beostoic agus Feola, has been carrying out a special radio and television promotion campaign on the home market, in addition to intensive promotional activities on export markets. The competitiveness of the pigmeat sector on export markets has been improved by the recent devaluation of the Irish pound.
