Vol. 527 No. 3
40 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has made any protest to the French Government concerning its failure to prevent the feeding of meat and bone meal to ruminants, thereby sparking the latest unease about BSE; if he will take steps to ensure that new action by the French Government does not unfairly disadvantage Irish beef exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28414/00]
Recent public concerns in relation to BSE derive from a number of recent events in Europe where a number of issues including the publication of the Phillips report, the higher number of cases in France and the confirmation of cases in Spain and Germany seriously affected consumer confidence.
The Council of Agriculture Ministers moved swiftly to re-establish a Community approach to dealing with the problem of BSE. The intention was to obviate the need for unilateral action by member states which only serves to give rise to disproportionate alarm among consumers both in Europe and elsewhere.
I have made my position clear on these issues in the discussions in the Council which reached agreement yesterday on a range of conclusions aimed at protecting public health and restoring consumer confidence in beef. The conclusions also provided for the introduction of support for the beef market. The measures include a temporary ban on feeding of meat and bone meal to all farm animals; animals over 30 months going into the food chain only if tested for BSE; a purchase for destruction scheme to remove from the food chain all cattle over 30 months which have not yet been tested for BSE; and the introduction of intervention purchasing.
I welcome these decisions. Combined with the decision taken last month to require all cattle over 12 months of age to be tested for BSE with effect from 1 July 2001, this will provide an improved framework for protecting human health and in restoring confidence in beef. It was essential that this particular Council reached a successful conclusion and that the full range of issues which had arisen from the most recent BSE crisis were adequately addressed. I am planning for the introduction of an expanded testing regime at the earliest possible date. The resultant restoration of consumer confidence is the critical first step in achieving market balance. I accept that the Irish beef sector has suffered disproportionately in the current crisis and I have brought this to the attention of my colleagues. The sector stands to gain most from a restoration of confidence especially in high volume markets.
I was particularly concerned to have adequate market support and I am confident that I have secured agreement for an effective and meaningful intervention arrangement which can provide the basis for a resumption of orderly marketing. The commitment by the Commission to look at the consequences of this current crisis for producers was also important from an Irish perspective.
I found it difficult to keep up with the Minister of State's speed of delivery. I invite him to answer my question. Has he made any protest to the French Government about the fact that it was its negligence and refusal to implement the kinds of measures we implemented in 1996 that directly gave rise to the latest turn of the screw in this crisis? Will the Minister of State answer the next part of my question, which relates to taking steps to ensure that new action by the French Government does not unfairly disadvantage Irish beef exports? Will he take account of the fact that that French Government has a most disreputable record? It was the Government which stood by while French farmers blocked the importation of Irish beef on the grounds that it was a danger to the health of French consumers. It stood by and took no action while that same danger to French consumers was cultivated on French farms. Is the Minister of State aware of these problems and is he doing anything to prevent them recurring?
The three issues raised by Deputy Dukes are matters of concern and have been raised. The question of the French disadvantaging Irish beef is one of which we are well aware and it has been highlighted. The difficulties the French have created for Irish beef and its export potential as well as the French mishandling of both BSE and the whole sector of disease have created real problems for Ireland. We are aware of that and it has been highlighted at Council of Ministers meetings by the Minister and the Commissioner, who has spoken out clearly about the two countries in Europe which are creating problems.
Does the Minister of State agree that the French have been the greatest proponents of renationalisation policies? What steps is he taking with Bord Bia and other agencies to ensure the rush to renationalisation – protectionism in another form – does not take place? After all, it has certainly been our betes noire and we have behaved like meek lambs while it renationalises and protects its industries. Does the Minister of State agree we have been too good as Europeans?
It is important for us to be good Europeans because we are beneficiaries and we have done well in the European Union. When I travelled to food fairs and different shows throughout Europe it was always an embarrassment to me to see what France had on view in terms of traceability and the systems it had in place. It was very distinguished in the way it handled its business in terms of the show pieces, the scale and the details of traceability. It was an embarrassment to me because we could not put in place something similar, but I have now found that our traceability systems are much better than those in France and the Deputy's question is very relevant—
In other words, they pulled the wool over the Minister of State's eyes.
Deputy Dukes, we want to reach other questions.
It is easy for the Deputy to make all those remarks on the opposite side of the House. I have to accept that much of what he says is true. In fact—
The Minister of State said it himself when he was on this side of the House.
Please, Deputy Sheehan.
We are an exporting country. We have to be careful about the way we handle the situation. The French have purchased 50,000 tonnes or more of Irish beef. It is a big market.
I will take two very brief questions from Deputies Dukes and Farrelly, and a final reply from the Minister of State.
Will the Minister of State ensure that any measures that are taken in relation to the certification of quality, the certification of origin or any declaration of fitness of meat from here on will be taken strictly at a Community level and that no member state, particularly France, will be allowed to take unilateral action that will disadvantage producers in any other member state, and particularly Ireland?
Does the Minister of State believe that in any further negotiations he will have with the French he will be compromised as a result of the disclosures made during the past few days in relation to his own position on meat and bone meal?
That matter does not arise in this question.
The French has never been compromised on any issue and it has always stood its ground on behalf of its own nation. To deal with Deputy Dukes's point on quality—
I am asking about the Minister of State. I am asking him that question.
Please allow the Minister of State to answer.
I can give the Deputy an assurance that no Minister will be compromised in dealing with any matter.
So the Minister of State is not compromised?
No.
The whole country feels he is compromised.
Please, Deputy Farrelly, allow the Minister of State to reply. I am moving to Question No. 41.
I want to address the two points made by Deputy Dukes on quality and origin of product. We can defend our quality and we also know the origin of our product. I assure the Deputy that whatever can be done to protect the quality and the origin of our product will be done. We are firmly committed to that. We have a State agency board dealing with the promotion agency and they have developed other markets. We have spent a large sum of money trying to develop markets.
There will be no unilateral restrictions—
