asked the Minister for Agriculture if the entry of Spain, Portugal and Greece into the EEC would affect Irish food exports to EEC countries.

It is not expected that the entry of Spain, Portugal and Greece into the EEC would have any adverse impact on Ireland's food exports. On the contrary, their entry is likely to increase demand in the enlarged Community for the main food products exported from this country.

Would I be correct in believing that the main impact agriculturally in these countries will be the vegetable market? Are there any Irish lines of vegetable production which would be affected adversely?

I do not expect that there will be any serious threat to homeproduced vegetables. For instance, the possible supplies of tomatoes from the Mediterranean and Spain would be arriving at an off-season time and for that reason would be no serious threat to domestic growers.