Shall we proceed to the more mundane matter of potatoes? You will find that generally the report is fairly comprehensive on the existing situation. It is all summed up in paragraph 8, which reads:
The Joint Committee fully excepts the need to stabilise the market in potatoes but does not accept that the Commission's proposals will achieve that purpose. It considers that the Commission should come forward with more realistic proposals.
I have no doubt that that is a very valid statement. The Commission proposals in effect, would be quite minimal in our situation. Our Department of Agriculture and Fisheries have their own crude scheme for stabilising the market and it is far more effective, basically, than what the Commission propose. For the moment we need not concern ourselves too much about the details of the proposals the Commission have put forward because I do not think they will be adopted. If they are adopted, I do not think they will have any practical implications in our situation. The main thing is that the Commission would direct efforts in this situation through producer groups. Producer groups in the Community at present control only 10 per cent of the main crop and 5 per cent of all the potato production, so any system that is based on producer groups that only controls 10 per cent of the production is not very significant. May I pass from that and just leave it with a statement of our general views? A number of people took part in the discussion. We had considerable help from the Irish Farmers' Association, the Irish Potato Federation, the Irish Potato Merchants' Association and the North Dublin Growers Ltd. If you agree to this report without any further comment, I will go on to the next report.
Paragraphs 1 to 9 inclusive, agreed to.
Draft Report agreed to.
Ordered: To report accordingly.