I beg to ask the President the following question, of which I have given him private notice: Whether the Executive Council have taken, or are about to take, the steps necessary to secure a reasonable price for barley during the coming season, with a view to protecting the threatened interests of Irish barley growers; whether any representations have been made to Messrs. Arthur Guinness and Sons, Ltd., and other Irish brewers and maltsters on the subject; or, alternatively, whether it is the intention of the Executive Council to take steps to prohibit the importation of foreign barley with a view to saving Irish barley growers from economic ruin.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - BARLEY GROWING.
A somewhat similar question was asked on the 31st July last, and I understand that an other question is going to be raised on the adjournment, dealing with some labour disputes which at present exist in portion of the territory under our jurisdiction. It was my intention in answering the question about barley to deal with the other question also at the same time. If the Deputy would agree I would postpone making that statement until after this other question has been raised. I have given the matter careful consideration, and I came to the conclusion that the two subjects were intermixed and that the matter would be best dealt with in a statement on the second question which, although it may not have any appearance of association with the other question is, in my opinion, bound up with it, and I propose to deal with it in the statement I am to make. If the Deputy would agree to that I would postpone making the statement until after the other question has been raised on the adjournment.