asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the effect full membership of the EEC will have on (a) the price of store cattle on the home market (b) the position of transitional farmers in regard to grants and State aid and (c) the Irish fishing industry.

(Cavan)(for the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries): The phasing out of the transitional accession arrangements over the period to December, 1977, will, of course, benefit the prices of store and other cattle through the application of the full EEC guide price, intervention prices and export refunds and the elimination of all accession charges on imports of cattle and beef from this country into Continental member States.

With regard to (b), the transitional accession arrangements do not apply to the directives on structural reform and we are already on the same basis as all the other member states.

As regard fisheries, exports to other member states will benefit from the phasing out of the customs duties at present applicable.

Is it not a fact that certain third countries like Austria and Yugoslavia at present enjoy duty free entry to the Community for cattle of up to 600 lbs weight? In the present cattle emergency would the Minister consider seeking the uptake of 250,000 young Irish cattle on the same terms as those Third Countries?

(Cavan): I regret I have not sufficient information to comment but I will pass it on.

Did the Minister make any reference to fisheries in his reply?

(Cavan): Yes, I said that exports to other states will benefit from the phasing out of the customs duties at present applicable.