Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 25 Jan 1995

Vol. 448 No. 1

Written Answers. - Designation of Wool as an Agricultural Product.

Liam Hyland

Ceist:

99 Mr. Hyland asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry in view of the initiative taken at European Parliament level calling on the Commission to have wool designated as an agricultural product within the Rome Treaty, if he will join with other European colleagues in bringing pressure to bear on the Commission; his views on whether wool, through added value, could make a contribution to the viability of sheep farming and also to promoting rural development; the size of the existing national sheep flock; the volume of unprocessed wool exported to other countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1640/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I do not envisage an opportunity arising in the short term to have the provisions of the Rome Treaty altered, so the question of the designation of wool as an agricultural product does not arise at this time.

The size of the national sheep flock at June 1994 was 8,462,900. The volume of unprocessed wool exported in 1993 was 9,934 tonnes. Given the supply and range of wool qualities available it is unlikely that a wool processing plant would be viable here at present but I would, of course, have any proposal in this regard properly considered.