asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state, in view of the increase in value of higher value-added dairy products being imported, the steps he proposes to take in the matter.

Total imports of dairy products in 1982 were valued at £19 million as compared with £710 million for exports of such products. Over 50 per cent of the imports consisted of butter for re-export and low-grade cheese for processing here. Even though the value of imports represented only about 3 per cent of the value of exports, the aim should be to replace as much as possible of them by home-produced items. As import prohibitions or restrictions cannot be imposed, replacement can be achieved only by producing here comparable products of high quality and at competitive prices. Some welcome progress has, in fact, been made in the past few years in extending the range and variety of dairy products produced here but there is still great need for wider diversification. IDA grants continue to be available for the provision of facilities for the production of highly processed products.

(Limerick West): Will the Minister indicate the countries who import low-grade cheese?

I have not that information but I would point out that it was not requested in the question. However, quite a high percentage of the £19 million worth of dairy products comes from Northern Ireland and is coming here for re-export. It is not being utilised in this country. In 1982 imports consisted of cheese to the value of £8.3 million.