asked the Minister for Agriculture whether in view of the difference in the price paid to farmers in the Saorstát for porkers as compared with the price paid in Northern Ireland, and of the retail price charged for pork in the Saorstát and also of the fact that foreign bacon is virtually excluded by reason of the tariffs on pig meats and pig products, he will take steps to ensure that the price paid to farmers for porkers in the Saorstát shall be as high as the price paid in Northern Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Porkers.
Dr. Ryan
The quantity of pig meat consumed as fresh pork in Saorstát Eireann is too small to have any appreciable effect on the price of pigs. The price paid for dead pigs for bacon curing is, approximately, equal to that paid for similar pigs in Northern Ireland, having regard to the British 30 per cent. special duty on Saorstát pork and to the freight charges and other expenses incidental to purchases of pork at markets more distant from curing establishments. As regards live pigs bought for curing, the Deputy should be aware that the price of bacon in Saorstát Eireann is closely related to the price received for the surplus bacon exported and that that price is again reflected in the price paid for live pigs. Moreover, in view of the fact that but a small proportion of the total bacon manufactured is exported and that the bounty is paid on exports only, the effect of the bounty when spread over all the pigs purchased for curing is relatively slight. Taking all circumstances into consideration I am satisfied that the price paid for live pigs is reasonably related to the price of bacon in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.