asked the Minister for Agriculture if the Pigs and Bacon Commission have the same trading powers as those recently conferred on the Irish Livestock and Meat Board and if not, if he will take the necessary action to remedy the situation.

There is no basic difference in the trading arrangements of the two bodies. Since Ireland's entry into the EEC the Pigs and Bacon Commission have exported pigmeat under a voluntary arrangement with the bacon curers. Under the limited trading powers assigned to CBF any exports would also have to be on a voluntary basis.