asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the distribution of stocks of surplus EC meat and butter, which he indicated in the Dáil on 16 December 1987, would commence early in the new year has not yet commenced; and if he will indicate the latest position regarding the distribution of the foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Following consultations between my Department and a number of official and voluntary organisations as regards implementation of the free food scheme in 1988 on 15 January last, I submitted an application, as required by the relevant Community regulation, seeking Commission approval for the Irish scheme. Pending a general decision on the allocation of the 100 million ECU provided for the measure, the Commission have not yet approved our application. The delay is due to the fact that a number of member states have not yet submitted programmes to the Commission. I am disappointed that the funds have not been allocated yet and that our scheme has not yet been approved. I understand, however, that the formal approval of the Commission will be forthcoming very shortly. The arrangements for distribution of beef and butter from intervention stocks to the homeless and other needy persons in the Community can commence very quickly after the necessary approval is received.

Is the Minister saying, therefore, that while on the previous occasion, on 16 December, when giving the reply that he anticipated that all that agreement would have been reached the present position is that it has not been reached and that there was an indication that member states would not take up their allocation. If that is the case would it mean in a redistribution that this country would benefit? The amount previously was £2 million. When does the Minister think this scheme will be in operation and will he give a date?

I share the Deputy's impatience because it depends on the acceptance of other member states. I would like to inform the Deputy I have reason to believe that when I say "very shortly" in my reply it will be very shortly. The Deputy can also rest assured that our application for an increased quota from the scheme stands very firmly in the event of some other member states not opting into the scheme but that has not yet been finally determined. That is the position and I hope that very shortly the allocations will be fixed and we can put the scheme in place because the consultations have already taken place here at home with a view to implementing this very important scheme.

May I ask the Minister by what means he hopes to have the distribution made and will he ensure that whatever system is adopted will eliminate the prospect of people having to queue as was the case previously?

The Deputy will appreciate that the previous occasion on which this was introduced was the first time. Like any major scheme of this nature, obviously there would have been some unsatisfactory elements of the type referred to but, by and large, the experience of everybody was that the voluntary organisations did a tremendous job in implementing the scheme. We have all learned from such problems as they were — queueing and delays — and I am satisfied that the arrangements that will now be put in place will minimise, if not avoid, that kind of experience.

Can the Minister tell the House how many member states have not yet reached agreement with the Commission and which states are they?

I do not think it would be appropriate to name member states that have not, as yet, finally agreed. I do not want to be seen to be criticising other member states.

How many?

It is a separate question in any event.

It is a separate matter in any event.

How many?

It is a very small number.

May I ask a further supplementary question. Is it two?

It is not more than two.

May I ask the Minister whether Ireland is one of the two?

No.

Are there two others with Ireland or is there just one other country with Ireland?

Ireland is not one of the two. We have, long ago, submitted our scheme and we have signalled not only our willingness but our interest in getting our allocation but the allocation, as the Deputy will appreciate from what I said to Deputy Sherlock, depends on the allocation Communitywide. I understand that the whole matter will be resolved very shortly.