Food imports and domestic production
The Minister could not quantify jobs lost to food imports, citing £15 million in imports against £73 million in exports in 1982. He estimated £150–£200 million of food imports could be produced domestically; a monitoring committee was examining import substitution, but no detailed breakdown was available.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of jobs lost to the country as a result of the amount of foodstuffs imported over the past year.
Comment on this
It is not possible to quantify in so far as my Department are concerned the number of jobs, if any, lost as a result of the import of foodstuffs.
Comment on this
I am very disappointed to hear the Minister say he has not got that information available. It should be available in the Department of Agriculture because this is something that is relevant as far as the development of our economy is concerned——
Comment on this
Does the Minister believe that a number of jobs have been lost because of the enormous amount of food which is being imported and will he make a statement on the matter now?
Comment on this
I cannot categorically say whether jobs have been lost because it is very difficult to quantify this kind of thing. For example, the total imports in 1982 amounted to about £15 million, of which £11 million came from Northern Ireland. The value of fully processed pigmeat products was about £3.3 million. However, that import figure must be set against the value of exports which amounted to £73 million in 1982.
10.
Comment on this
asked the Minister for Agriculture the value of foodstuffs imported last year that could have been produced here.
Comment on this
Of the total annual imports of foodstuffs of about £750 million it is estimated that some £150 million to £200 million could have been produced here.
Comment on this
What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that the amount we can produce at home will be produced?
Comment on this
At present my colleague, Deputy Hegarty, who has responsibility for this area, is very deeply involved in all matters relating to food imports. A monitoring committee on food imports was set up by the Minister a few months ago and they are engaged in ascertaining what kind of products could be produced here which would eliminate or be a substitute for imports.