Vol. 485 No. 4
5 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the Government's handling of the blockade of Irish meat by United Kingdom farmers; the steps, if any, he has taken, both at EU level and in contact with the United Kingdom Government, to secure complete and unimpeded access through United Kingdom ports and to counter the negative image of Irish beef in the United Kingdom. [23580/97]
The action taken by British farmers over the past two weeks to prevent the import of Irish beef into Britain is completely unacceptable. The United Kingdom is a traditional market for Irish beef and beef exporters are entitled to unrestricted access to that market. The Government has conveyed this view very strongly to the British authorities at all levels, including to the Prime Minister, since the commencement of the protest action. Immediately following the first incident at Holyhead on 1 December, I spoke to the Secretary of State for Wales, Mr. Ron Davies, and made it clear that everything possible should be done to ensure that Irish beef could be imported into the UK and traded there without impediment. I met the British Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Jack Cunningham, on 4 December in London to convey the Government's view that stronger action needed to be taken by the British authorities to protect Irish hauliers. I was assured by Dr. Cunningham that the behaviour of British farmers in impeding Irish trade was illegal and totally unacceptable to his Government and that everything possible would be done to ensure unimpeded access for Irish beef to the British market. The Taoiseach also raised the matter on two occasions with the UK Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs discussed the issue with his British counterpart Mr. Robin Cook.
The action by British farmers has also been raised directly with the European Commission and at the Transport Council by the Minister for Public Enterprise, Deputy O'Rourke, on 11 December and by me at the Agriculture Council earlier this week. I met the UK Minister for Agriculture in Brussels in the context of the meeting of the Agriculture Council and I sought and received further assurances from him that Irish beef would be allowed unimpeded access to the British market. I apprised Commissioner Fischler and other EU Ministers for Agriculture of developments and, in particular, of the difficulties which the action by the British farmers created for the Irish beef industry.
I am satisfied that the strong representations made by the Government to the British authorities and at EU level have been successful. These representations resulted in much stronger action being taken by the British authorities against protesters and in greater protection being given to Irish hauliers. The position now is that Irish beef exports are getting through unhindered to their destinations in the United Kingdom.
I do not accept that Irish beef has a negative image in the UK. A research project undertaken by Bord Bia earlier this year found a very high level of acceptability of Irish beef among British consumers. Nevertheless, Bord Bia is working closely with the major multiples to ensure that everything possible is done to maintain the presence of Irish beef on supermarket shelves in the United Kingdom.
I do not agree that everything possible was done at the time. While I welcome the lifting of the blockade, according to the farmers' unions in Wales and the UK this was only the first instalment.
The Deputy should confine himself to short supplementary questions.
Does the Minister agree that the real reason for the reduction in prices was the blockade? It took the Government more than two weeks to make clear its views to the British Government. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach should have done much more. Does the Minister take seriously the threat by Welsh farmers that they will encourage a boycott of Irish products on supermarket shelves in the UK and, if so, what contingency plans does his Department have to deal with the matter? The transport of goods along a corridor with an escort does not accord with the concept of free movement enshrined in the Treaty of Rome. The new twist in the action by Welsh farmers is the most worrying aspect.
The Government dealt with this issue expeditiously and immediately contacted the British Government when the blockade began. In this case responsibility for free access under the Single European Act rests with the British Government in whose jurisdiction the blockade took place. Following representations to the British Government at the highest level — I travelled to London to meet my counterpart — stronger action was taken, the protest was withdrawn and full access was granted to beef exports.
There is no doubt that the protest, with the BSE scare, led to a reduction in the price of beef of approximately 3p per pound. It is unfortunate that this happened in the lead up to Christmas when there is a large demand for beef, which previously made almost 90p per pound. There is no doubt that the blockade was a setback and led to a loss of income for beef producers. From time to time difficulties are created within member states — we all recall the truckers' strike in France — in terms of impeded access to markets. A week ago the European Court handed down a decision against France in that regard and that will be helpful to Ireland. Since we export a high percentage of beef, it is important to have access to other markets.
I raised this matter at the Council of Agriculture Ministers. I made it clear that Ireland demands adherence to European law, that non-compliance with European law, as demonstrated at UK ports, is unacceptable. In response, the British Minister for Agriculture accepted that the protests were illegal. He said the British authorities had done everything possible to deal with the problem, that within a week the protesters had been removed and trucks allowed through. He said that in future they would seek to ensure the rule of law obtained.
Farmer spokesmen in Wales and the UK generally suggested they would put pressure on multiples there to desist from purchasing Irish beef and that they would promote British beef. I brought that matter to the attention of the British Minister for Agriculture, through the Council, and received assurances in that regard. The British Minister said that he could not prevent the industry from promoting its product, as we do here by way of "buy Irish" campaigns. There is a shortage of beef in the UK. The British Minister made it clear that my predecessor and I have been extraordinarily helpful in regard to the problem of BSE. It is in the interests of everybody, consumers and beef producers, to have order restored to the market and that is what we are seeking to do.
Is the Minister satisfied that multinationals and multiples have resumed purchasing the quantities of beef they purchased prior to the blockade and that there has been no impact on employment here as a result? Will he ask the Government to facilitate a class action by hauliers who incurred substantial losses as a result of the blockade. It would be very costly if individual hauliers were to take action for compensation and, from previous experience, the success rate would be negligible. A class action taken with Government support would have greater impact. Will the Minister consider such a means of recovering losses incurred by hauliers, who were innocent victims in this instance?
Disruption was caused by the blockades, but at all times beef and beef products got through to their destination. In one incident beef burgers were thrown into the sea, as we saw on our television screens. Truck drivers were requested to turn around and go back on the ferry but when they returned later they were allowed through. The disruption was inappropriate and unacceptable. Since then beef has been getting through to its destination.
The successful promotional campaign by Bord Bia for Irish beef has suffered a setback because of the highlighting of the farmers' case and multiples being careful to avoid protests at depots which supply goods to them. Bord Bia is continuing to support the trade in the United Kingdom. Purchases have returned to previous levels and it is hoped that position will continue.
As I said on a number of occasions, particularly in reply to a Private Notice Question, I would be pleased to assist hauliers who pursue a case for damages. I will take up the case on behalf of any haulier who contacts me, but to date nobody has approached me in that regard.
The Government handled this matter very badly. Was this item on the agenda at this week's Council of Agriculture Ministers?
Of course it was on the agenda, much to the disappointment of the Deputy's colleague, Mr. Cushnahan MEP, who tried to make political capital of the issue. He damaged the industry further by suggesting it was not on the agenda and contacting the media, "Morning Ireland" and the newspapers, to that effect. It would have been much better for the industry if Mr. Cushnahan had fully read the agenda. The issue was handled professionally and successfully.
My understanding is that the matter was raised under "Any Other Business". We are not talking about a county council meeting, we are dealing with a very serious issue. As Deputies Connaughton and Penrose said, as a result of the blockade prices dropped. Why did the Government not take legal action against its British counterparts in the first few days of the campaign? If it had done so, it might have saved farmers money and avoided hardship. I agree with Deputy Connaughton there are bad days ahead.
Mr. Cushnahan MEP has been long enough in Europe to know that two weeks' notice is necessary to get an item on the agenda. Since this incident occurred less than two weeks before the meeting, the only way to raise it was on the supplementary agenda. I ask Mr. Cushnahan to learn about European matters rather than seek to damage the industry here. On the blockade and access to the UK and other European markets, all aspects of this matter were expeditiously and successfully dealt with, including difficulties for hauliers.
Is the Minister concerned about the United States' ban on EU beef because of BSE? Did the Taoiseach take up that matter with the United States President when he met him a few days ago?
That is a separate question.
It relates to beef.
Yes, but it is not relevant to this question.
I refer to the last part of Deputy Connaughton's question, the necessity to counter the negative image of Irish beef portrayed in the United Kingdom. For the past three weeks the BBC and ITV have been portraying Irish beef as cheap imports. Two weeks ago I saw a similar statement on Aertel on RTÉ. Cheap imports of Irish beef are being blamed for the blockade. Has the Minister done anything to counteract that slur on our beef? Irish beef is known all over the world, particularly in Europe, as being the best. Has he contacted RTÉ, ITV or the BBC to counteract that negative image? Our beef is not cheap. It is probably sold as the "Best English" or "Best Scotch" beef because they believe there would be a counter reaction if it was labelled as Irish beef.
I am concerned about the US ban on EU beef. It is regrettable that any country should ban an Irish product. We take immediate action on such matters. We do not export a huge volume of beef to the US, but we are a delisted country and that looks bad in other countries to where we export beef. The Taoiseach took up the matter with President Clinton during his recent visit. We made the strongest possible representations on the matter.
It is a fallacy to claim Irish beef is being dumped on the UK market. That is simply not true. When the blockade commenced Irish farmers were receiving less for their beef than their British counterparts. We contacted the British authorities about the matter and I appeared on several UK television and radio programmes to point out that we are not under selling on the UK market and that our beef is top of the range. Our control systems in the domestic market and retailers demand those standards. My colleagues, including the Minister of State, Deputy Davern, also appeared on several current affairs programmes in the UK to counteract that suggestion. We asked Bord Bia to promote the positive image of our beef in terms of quality and price. I hope that innuendo was not taken up by British consumers. Irish beef is being purchased in the UK. A survey carried out by Bord Bia shows that there is a positive image towards our beef there. The assurances we are able to give the UK consumers are obviously being accepted. However, I take the Deputy's point. I saw a number of the programmes to which he referred and the suggestions made were outrageous.
