asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will consider the issue of a licence to permit the free importation of Scotch seed oats to meet the requirements of farmers in Cavan and other counties who require a change of seed but cannot afford the price with the duty included.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Importation of Seed Oats.
Dr. Ryan
I am satisfied that there are at present in Saorstát Eireann ample supplies of oats, of a quality suitable for seed, for the requirements of farmers during the present sowing season, and that there is no necessity for the importation of seed oats from Scotland to enable farmers to obtain a change of seed.
The Executive Council on 3rd instant made an Order trebling the duty imposed on seed oats by the Emergency Imposition of Duties (No. 4) Order of 1932. In the circumstances I am not prepared to recommend the issue of licences for the importation of seed oats from Scotland free of duty.
Arising out of the Minister's reply I would like to ask him (1) if he has taken counsel with the officials of his Department and (2) if he will publish somewhere the sources of supply to which he now refers. My experience is that we cannot get an adequate supply of suitable oats for seed in this season. I am most anxious to get them within Saorstát Eireann, if available, but I believe these supplies are not available. I would ask the Minister to publish where they can be got if they are available.
Dr. Ryan
The people of Donegal, constituents of Deputy Dillon, say they have very large supplies of seed oats which are available for other parts of the country. Apart from County Donegal, and leaving out three or four northern counties, our reports go to show that there are more than sufficient seed oats in all the other counties in the Saorstát.
Are we to take it from the Minister's answer that nobody can import even small quantities of Scotch seed oats, known to be the best in the world, in order to have an adequate supply for their own and other local requirements next year? The Minister I am sure is aware that imported strains of any seed are at their best in the second year.
Might I say that we have no desire to embarrass or make it difficult for the Minister and his Department. It is the duty of the Department to make available to the people, who cannot get their seeds in the normal way, all the sources of information as to where they can get them. There are many farmers and merchants in the habit of getting oats from Scotland. Since the imposition of the tariff they are at a loss to know where to turn for their supplies. All I ask the Minister to do is to make available, through his Department, just as the Department of Industry and Commerce does—if you are looking for something they inform the merchant—where he is to get such a thing in the Saorstát or elsewhere. Will the Department of Agriculture set up an information bureau, and so inform merchants where they can get their supplies, because if they do not do that the oats will not be available to farmers?
Dr. Ryan
The Department of Agriculture will certainly give the information desired if they are asked. With regard to Deputy Belton's question, we have provided to a limited extent, for people of Deputy Belton's mentality, who believe that Scotch oats are better than Irish oats, to import seed free of duty provided the Department is satisfied it is being used for seed only.