asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware (a) that the Prices Commission in their recent report on bacon have reported that combination for interference with trade competition in the bacon industry does exist and, as proof of such combination, have instanced the fixing of minimum prices for bacon by the Bacon Marketing Board between January, 1936, and March, 1938, and (b) that a bacon curer has publicly alleged that one of the chief causes of the high prices of bacon in Ireland during 1934-37 was the encouragement given to the Bacon Board by his Department to fix minimum prices of bacon; if he will state whether there is any truth in this allegation; and, if so, under what statutory authority such encouragement was given, and whether it was in secrecy and without the cognisance of Dáil Eireann; and whether at any time since the passing of the Pigs and Bacon Acts he had become aware that the machinery established by these Acts had been diverted from its intended purpose and was being utilised by the curer members of the boards to promote the interests of the curers and to secure excessive profits for themselves.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bacon Prices.
As to the first part of the question, my attention has been drawn to the report. As to the first part of paragraph (b) of the question, I would refer the Deputy to the reply given to a similar question put to me by Deputy Dillon yesterday. As regards the last part of the question, the answer is in the negative.
Is the Minister aware that his attention was specifically directed in this House to the matter referred to in the last part of the question when the Pigs and Bacon Act was introduced by himself?
I do not remember any such thing.
Is the Minister aware that the document circulated by the board, or the members of the board, purporting to fix prices was shown to him in this House on that occasion by me?
I do not remember. Perhaps the Deputy is right.