Desmond J. O'Malley
Ceist:49 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his policy priorities for Irish agriculture during Ireland's forthcoming Presidency of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10596/96]
Written Answers. - EU Presidency.
My overall objective during Ireland's forthcoming Presidency will be to further the interests of the agriculture, food and forestry sectors in the Union generally and in Ireland by the efficient and effective conduct of the Council's business.
The specific issues to be addressed by the Irish Presidency will depend on the proposals at present before the Council which will be agreed during the Italian Presidency and on the further proposals which the Commission may bring forward this year. It is assumed at this stage that the Commission's proposals for the 1996-97 prices review and for the reform of the fruit and vegetable sector will be finalised during the Italian Presidency.
A major priority of the Irish Presidency will be to achieve a satisfactory resolution of the difficulties in the beef sector arising from BSE, including adequate compensation for beef farmers for the lower prices being experienced this year, a restoration of consumer confidence in beef and changes in the market organisation which will better suit the sector in the longer term, to the extent that these issues may not be concluded during the Italian Presidency.
A further priority will be to secure a satisfactory outcome to the debate within the Council on the report which the Commission is required to carry out on the application of the quota system in the sheepmeat sector and to bring any resultant commission proposals to a satisfactory conclusion.
Other priorities of direct interest of Irish agriculture will be in the fixing of the set-aside rate for 1996-97 in the arable crops sector and the finalisation of a number of proposals in the veterinary area relating to food safety, animal welfare and trade and the siting of a new EU veterinary agency in Ireland.
There will also be a number of major issues such as the reform of the market organisations for wine and olive oil which, though of less direct concern to Ireland, I intend to pursue as priorities during the Irish Presidency.