asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that many of the small farmers in Donegal have been accustomed to getting their supply of seed oats from the local seed merchants on a credit basis; that the application by these farmers to the Department to import small quantities of oats under licence is an unsuitable arrangement as they are not in a position to forward cash with order; and if in these circumstances he will consider the question of granting licences to merchants in Donegal to import Scotch seed oats (sandy and potato variety).
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Licences for Imported Seed Oats.
I am not aware that the arrangement made for the importation of seed oats this spring is an unsuitable one so far as farmers in County Donegal are concerned, and I do not, therefore, propose to consider the question of granting licences to merchants in Donegal to import Scotch seed oats. A considerable number of licences to import seed oats has been issued to farmers in that county.
Surely the Minister is aware that, in certain parts of County Donegal, the small farmers depend largely on exchanging a few bags of their own oats for seed oats from the local merchants at this time of the year, and that others of them who have not got oats of their own to exchange usually get their supplies on a credit basis? He must realise that they are particularly unfortunate in County Donegal, which has specialised in seed oats, and that the smaller farmers should be facilitated.
Hear, hear! Deputy Blaney has discovered that the Minister does not know his job.
Not only have licences to import seed oats been issued freely in Donegal but the Department of Agriculture has actually been able to get large supplies of first-class seed oats. It appears to be much better off than most counties in this respect.
I should like to point out again that the Department of Agriculture, for a number of years, depended largely on Donegal for the supply of seed oats for distribution amongst farmers in the West of Ireland. The farmers in Donegal have specialised in seed oats as well as in seed potatoes, and there is, undoubtedly, inconvenience and hardship this year, as a result of the Minister's policy in not giving licences to the merchants to import the Scotch seed oats.