asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what changes there would be in the general prices at present paid to Irish farmers for milk if Ireland were now to join the EEC.
62.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - EEC Milk Prices.
61.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what prices will be paid to creameries for butter and skim milk at the start of the EEC transitional period, assuming that the EEC Commission's price proposals for 1972-73 are implemented.
63.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the average maximum and minimum prices that Irish farmers are likely to receive for milk at the start of the EEC transitional period, taking account of present variations in creamery efficiency.
64.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what price will be paid to creameries for butter and skim milk at the end of the EEC transitional period if no further increases take place in EEC milk and milk product prices after the implementation of current proposals for such prices in the year 1972-73 and if no change takes place in the present range of creamery efficiency between now and the end of the transitional period.
65.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the average, maximum and minimum prices Irish farmers will receive for milk and milk products at the end of the EEC transitional period, taking account of present variations in creamery efficiency, if no further increases in EEC prices take place between now and the end of the transitional period.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 62, 63, 64 and 65 together.
While the general system for the harmonisation of milk prices in Ireland and the other applicant countries with those in the present Community has been determined, details of the implementing arrangements to operate during the transitional period have yet to be settled and it is not possible, therefore, to indicate precisely the effects of those arrangements on prices of milk, butter and skim milk here. As a general indication, however, I would point out that the current target price for milk in the Community is equivalent to 20p per gallon for milk of 3.5 per cent fat content, whereas the average price here in 1970 was 11.55p. The difference between the price here and the Community price will be phased out in six steps over the five-year transitional period but the actual prices received by farmers here during and at the end of that period will be influenced greatly by the efficiency of our creamery industry in processing and marketing. This emphasises the importance of pressing ahead as rapidly as possible with the rationalisation of the industry.
Questions Nos. 66 to 83, inclusive, postponed.