asked the Minister for Finance why the four million units of account for young farmers, and the 20 million extra units of account for processing and marketing of agricultural products voted by the European Parliament were not accepted by the Council of Ministers; and if he agreed to the decision of the Council in this matter.

The amendments and modifications proposed by the European Parliament to the 1979 draft budget were considered by the Budget Council on 20 November 1978. To incorporate the additional amounts of 4 million units of account for aid to young farmers and 20 million units of account for processing and marketing of agricultural products into the 1979 budget as proposed by the European Parliament would have required a qualified majority of the Council in favour of these proposals. While Ireland supported both proposals, there was not sufficient support in the Council to achieve the qualified majority necessary for their acceptance. Hence they were not included in the 1979 budget.

Would the Minister say if the matter was actually voted upon at the Council?

It was; each matter was voted upon separately.