asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what was the average price received for creamery butter exported to Germany each month during the year 1933; if any bounty was paid in respect of such exports and, if so, how much per cwt.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Creamery Butter Exports to Germany.
It is not, in my opinion, desirable that publicity should be given to the particulars of the prices referred to; but if the Deputy so desires I shall arrange to furnish him with these particulars for his private information. In regard to the concluding portion of the question, the only bounty payable on the export of this butter is that payable under the Dairy Produce (Price Stabilisation) Act, 1932, i.e., 28/- per cwt.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, I should be glad to know if I will have leave to put down this question on another occasion, when the Minister for Agriculture can attend, because when the Minister for Defence says he does not think it is in the public interest to publish those figures he is apparently unaware of the fact that on the last day this House sat the Minister for Agriculture published what I believe to be a fictitious figure. I want to ask him directly now whether the figure he did in fact publish on the last day this House sat is, as I believe it to be, a fictitious figure. With the leave of the Chair I propose to put down this question on another occasion for the attention of the Minister himself.
I want to know from Deputy Dillon whether he wants the information or not.
I do.
If the Deputy wants the particulars, I have told him on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture that if he applies he will get them for his private information.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, there is no need for him to shake his gory locks at me. The Minister for Agriculture published certain figures here on the last day this House sat. I adopt the perfectly regular procedure of inquiring from the Minister across the floor of the House in a categorical manner what the correct figure is. I am entitled to a public reply. I do not desire in this matter to enter into any private correspondence with the Minister. Any figure he gives me I shall publish if necessary to correct what I believe to be a public misstatement of the facts.
The Minister for Agriculture is prepared to do a thing that I would not be prepared to do, and that is to give the Deputy private information, because I know perfectly well that if he got private information it would not be long private; it would be public.
Arising out of that reply, I repudiate and protest against the language used by the Minister. I have already information which the Minister for Agriculture did publish in this House. I am asking for that figure to be corrected or confirmed publicly. I claim that it is the right of this House to have it corrected or confirmed publicly.
The last remark of the Minister should be withdrawn.