asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the nature of the preparations being made by the British Government for the importation and storage in the event of war of wheat, meat and other perishable foodstuffs; whether he can say if these preparations are of such a nature as to indicate the potential source of supply; and whether he is in a position to make a statement regarding the production of food in this country in the eventuality mentioned, the arrangement under which the disposable surplus will be sold outside the country, and the measures which will be taken to protect crops against the possibility of contamination by poison gas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - War Precautions.
I have no information in regard to the arrangements referred to in the first part of the Deputy's question. As the Deputy is aware, measures have already been taken to make this country as independent as possible of imported supplies of essential foodstuffs such as wheat. The matter of protecting foodstuffs against contamination by poison gas is related to general defence problems in regard to which I am not prepared to make a statement.