asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what consideration influenced him to refuse to pay a bounty on sheep having regard to the fact that sheep are the mainstay of a considerable proportion of the farmers of the country and particularly of the small farmers of the County Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Refusal of Bounty on Sheep.
The question of the payment of a bounty on the export of sheep was fully considered by me, but in view of the more urgent requirements, in respect of bounties, of other branches of the agricultural industry, and having regard also to the amount of funds available for the payment of bounties, I have not seen my way to recommend to the Executive Council the payment of a bounty on the export of sheep. I may add that I have not been approached by representatives of sheep owners with a view to the payment of such bounty.
Mr. Brodrick
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is he aware that of the total number of sheep produced in Ireland, one and a half millions come from County Galway? Is the Minister not prepared to help this industry throughout the country, just the same as he is helping other live stock industries, or is it the declared policy of his Ministry to cripple the sheep industry, by which so many small farmers, particularly in the County Galway, earn a livelihood? Finally, I would like to mention to the Minister that if that is the Government's declared policy he ought to remind the Minister for Lands and Fisheries that the people interested in sheep raising must inevitably be defaulting annuitants, because they will not have money to pay their liabilities.
The Deputy is merely begging the question.
Why not a bounty on sheep as well as on turkeys and geese?
A case can be made out for turkeys and geese. As far as sheep are concerned, they are fed almost entirely on pasture and concessions given by the Government by way of relief of rates, together with concessions with respect to land annuities, should more than make up any loss there might be on sheep. The same would not apply to turkeys and geese.
Does the Minister know that the farmers of North Wexford feed their sheep on roots, corn and potatoes?
I said "mainly on pasture."
Is the Minister aware that store cattle are fed on pasture?
Yes.
Mr. Hogan
Is there a bounty on store cattle exported?
Yes.
Mr. Hogan
Is the Minister aware that practically all the farmers of Galway who live out of sheep feed their sheep all the winter and that practically all their roots go to the feeding of the sheep?
The question was put to me principally on behalf of the small farmers of County Galway. These small farmers of County Galway get most benefit out of the relief of rates and the remission of land annuities.
What about the sheep farmers of County Wexford?
Mr. Brodrick
Do not half the small farmers of Galway feed their sheep on roots?
I have never seen them.
Mr. Hogan
Do not the people who are getting the benefit of the bounty on the export of cattle and live stock get the benefit of the relief of rates and remission of annuities?
If you wish, we will withdraw that.
Mr. Hogan
I have not asked that. Why have sheep been singled out in this way? Having regard to the fact that the Government is paying a bounty on poultry, the production of which is not nearly so important to the small farmer of the West, why does the Government refuse to pay a bounty on sheep?
The last portion of my answer states:—"I have not been approached by representatives of sheep owners with a view to the payment of such bounty." I was approached in every other case.
Mr. Hogan
Is it too late to approach the Minister now?
The Minister cannot be approached across the House.
Probably it is too late.
Mr. Hogan
If representations are made on behalf of the sheep producers of the country, will the Minister consider them sympathetically? I think I am entitled to an answer to that.
I shall consider them sympathetically but I think the position has changed since the land annuity remission came.
The other day, arising out of the Minister's answer to a question by me, I brought to his notice the position of the sheep producers in Wicklow. The Minister said that he knew all about their position. If that be so, what more information does he want?
I did know a considerable amount about the sheep owners of Wicklow because I had been dealing with them in connection with another matter.
Mr. Hogan
Did the Minister inquire from his own Department what the position was with regard to sheep exports and sheep prices?
Yes. I have the figures here.
Mr. Hogan
Did the Minister find that the fall in the price of sheep was greater than the fall in the price of any other class of live stock?
That is true.
Mr. Hogan
Did the Minister not think it was his duty to do something to help the sheep farmers?
Is not the concession in rates and in annuities much more important?
Mr. Hogan
Do not these concessions apply to all the others as well as to the people who produce sheep?