Vol. 495 No. 5
107 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the possibility of exchanging goods and services, particularly agriculture produce, with Russia on a barter system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20621/98]
The matter raised by the Deputy is one for the trade and marketing organisations. While I would give every encouragement to any trader who would wish to get involved in an arrangement such as suggested in the question, such arrangements are invariably difficult and complex and depend on the suitability of the products involved. I could not get directly involved in arranging a bartering system for agricultural produce.
