asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that Messrs. Lunham, bacon curers, Cork, acting in accordance with the production quota of the Bacon Marketing Board, have refused to kill and cure for the South Cork Board of Assistance the pigs reared on the board's farm for the board's own patients; and that the board is compelled to buy the bacon requirements of the institution, totalling some 1,400 patients in the ordinary way, which means more than double the cost to the ratepayers; and will the Minister under those exceptional circumstances introduce proposals for legislation to empower bacon curers to cure pigs in excess of their production quota in such cases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Bacon Curers' Production Quota.
I have no information as to the refusal of the firm mentioned in the Deputy's question to kill and cure pigs for the South Cork Board of Assistance. The firm may legally do so but the quantity of bacon thus cured would rank as part of their production quota. The provision contained in the legislation dealing with this matter is very necessary to prevent over-production by individual factories, and I am not prepared to introduce legislation to modify it.
Is the Minister aware that the firm in question used to kill these pigs free of charge, simply retaining the offals, and that it means a tremendous expense now in the purchase of bacon by the South Cork Board of Assistance? I have not the figures with me, but the board of assistance, of which I am a member, is under very much increased cost now in purchasing the bacon. It was a big saving to have those pigs killed for them. Cannot the Minister see his way now to permit that killing without including it in the quota when they are not getting any profit by it?
If they are left the offals, that is a profit.
Is it not true that the Minister insists on the Cork Board of Assistance paying its share of the levy that he is levying on bacon at the present time in order to help to subsidise exports of bacon to Great Britain?
Nothing could be further from the truth.
It is the absolute truth.
Not at all.
Will the Minister be satisfied if they kill them for nothing without retaining the offals?
I answered the question. The Deputy put no supplementary question because I have answered what he asked. There is nothing to prevent the firm killing the pigs.
Surely they can kill the pigs without making any charge?
If they like—I do not mind.
You are satisfied?
They are included in the quota?
I have nothing to do with that. That is a matter for the Bacon Marketing Board.
I will inform the firm of that answer.