asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has set in motion negotiations for the sale of next autumn's crop of certified seed potatoes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Seed Potatoes.
It would be too early to begin any negotiations until we are in a position to form some estimate of the quantity of seed likely to be available. Negotiations have not yet commenced.
Is the Minister aware of the great hardship and loss that growers of seed potatoes suffered this year because of the lateness in fixing the price? Potatoes that should have been going away at Christmas are only going away now. Tillage operations have been seriously interfered with. Would he see that negotiations are begun at the earliest possible moment and not have the price fixed some time at the end of November or in December when the early potatoes should be already gone?
Two factors outlined have entered into the delay to which the Deputy referred. One is that we were not satisfied with the price that was being offered to us, and, secondly, when the price was agreed on the weather conditions were such that it was not easy to get the potatoes out.
Surely, the Minister realises that the previous year's price for potatoes sold at the right time would be preferable to an increase which came too late to save the intermediate loss.