asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the latest position in relation to the availability of the French market for Irish lamb.

The French internal price this week is below the minimum import price and the market is accordingly now closed. It is not due to reopen until the market price in France exceeds the minimum import price for two consecutive weeks.

Would the Minister not agree that it is a dreadful situation that the French are allowed to close this market?

It is.

Would not the Minister agree also that sheep producers felt, justifiably—at the time of voting for the Common Market, and still feel—that the principle of a Common Market would entitle them to access to this market?

Yes.

Has the Minister lodged any protest about the nonavailability of this market?

The Minister never ceases to lodge protests.

Does the Minister intend to take any retaliatory measures to ensure that this market might be opened again?

No. I do not know what the Deputy has in mind when he talks about retaliatory measures.

The Minister must be aware that he would have the complete support of over 30,000 producers and he must also be aware that it is a major financial and social problem in Ireland and great difficulty is involved for those people when this market is not open. We must take some steps to ensure that this market will be opened.

There is no disagreement between us on this.

Question No. 16.

Can the Minister not indicate to me that he has some proposal in view to have this market opened?

I have a number of proposals in view.

What steps has the Minister taken recently to implement the proposals?

The up-to-date position is that the Commission have definitely promised to come up with proposals for the July meeting of the Council.

Could we not have had that guaranteed last year?

Deputy Callanan.

Can the Minister not give a reply to that?

I have called Deputy Callanan.

There are over 30,000 sheep farmers in the poorer regions of the country and this is a very important matter.

I appreciate that and I have given the Deputy a lot of latitude. I have called another Deputy.

The Minister appears to be in a good mood and has expressed willingness to answer my question.

Deputy Murphy must obey the Chair. It does not necessarily mean that he will not get another supplementary but he must obey the Chair.

Surely the Minister is aware that the case put up by Deputy Murphy is a good one and he must be aware of the serious situation of sheep farmers at the moment. The French market is closed. There was a three-week strike when you could not get a fat lamb into the factories. At the end of the strike they had to be sold at a reduced price. In my part of the country they were sold for £13 each and were worth £18. Good ewes are being sold at £8 now. Sheep have to be sold at give-away prices at the moment. I appreciate the Minister is with us in regard to this but we want to know what is happening about the closure of the French market. It is contrary to the principles of the Treaty of Rome.

We must have short supplementaries please.

What serious action does the Minister propose to take to ensure that the French will toe the line and keep within the general principles of the Treaty of Rome? Will he do something for the sheep farmers who are in a serious position at the moment?

Will the Minister not agree that in view of the serious imbalance of payments between this country and France we cannot allow this type of cut-out of a vital part of our trade with them? We are importing a large quantity of motor cars from them. Is this not a matter which could be discussed between the two Governments in order to try to correct the position or else we will have to reduce the importation of motor cars from them?

All I can say to the Deputy is that the French are fully aware of our feelings in this matter.

Question No. 16.

Can we not take action to reduce the importation of motor cars?

Surely the Minister can give some sort of decent answer to a number of supplementaries rather than the glib sort of answer he has given? Can he give some explanation to the 30,000 sheep farmers who depend on the export market?

I have assured the sheep farmers, and I think they accept, that I am using every device open to me to try to correct something which I think is completely wrong.

Is the Minister having any success?

I have called Question No. 16.

I have often seen 20 minutes spent on a question which was not as important as this.

Before you go on to the next question can I ask, with your permission, if I may raise the subject matter of Questions Nos. 20, 21, 22 and 23 on last Thursday's Order Paper?

The Deputy ought to do that at another time. It is not usual to do it at this time.

I was instructed I could do it during Question Time. I appreciate it is not usual.

The Deputy can do it at the end of Question Time. I will communicate with the Deputy.

Is the Minister aware——

This must be the Deputy's final supplementary.

Is the Minister aware that we import £87 million worth of cosmetics, wines, motor cars and other goods from the French and we only export £35 million to them in return?

I am fully aware of the imbalance.

Question No. 16.

Will the Minister agree that awareness is not sufficient at the moment?

Next question.

I am doing everything possible.

Is the Minister not aware that this is a serious situation?

We are all aware that it is a serious situation.

I am surprised at the Minister because he is not a man who usually shirks answers.

I have to obey the Chair.