asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he intends to maintain the same rate of bounty on pigs and bacon exports as obtained throughout the year 1934-35.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bounty on Pigs and Bacon Exports.
Dr. Ryan
The rate of bounty on pigs and bacon will not necessarily be the same this year as last.
The rate may be varied from time to time as the circumstances of the export trade may require.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, does the Minister mean to qualify the statement made by the Minister for Finance in introducing the Budget, that at his request he took the levy off pigs in order to relieve agriculture, by now stating that he feels himself free to vary the amount of the bounty and thus alter the effect of the remission which the Minister for Finance alleges he has made?
Dr. Ryan
The Deputy is as irrelevant as ever.
Does the Minister for Agriculture realise that unless the export bounty on pork is kept at the same figure as it has been throughout last year, the remission of the levy which was going into the Exchequer on pig carcases cannot be regarded as a relief to agriculture? If the levy is going to be reduced and the bounty reduced at the same time, no advantageous result will accrue to the pig producers of the country.
Dr. Ryan
Is the Deputy going to be a prophet? How does he know what conditions there will be before the year is out?