asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that feeders in Northern Ireland are importing bonhams from Éire and feeding them on cheap feeding stuffs and re-exporting them to Irish curers without paying any tariff; and whether he will consider letting the feeders in Éire import the cheap feeding stuffs and secure the feeding profits that are going to Northern feeders.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bonhams from Éire.
I am not aware of the extent to which the practice to which the Deputy refers is followed, but I do not believe it to be so extensive as to justify any special measures to counteract it.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, Sir—is he not aware that Northern Ireland feeders, in fact, are able to get cheaper feeding stuffs than the feeders in Éire, with the result that they can take bonhams out of Éire into Northern Ireland and feed them on cheap feeding stuffs and then bring them back to Éire and sell them against our people here? In the light of those facts, would the Minister not consider giving cheap feeding stuffs to our own farmers so that at least, they can compete on equal terms with the farmers of Northern Ireland?
The number of pigs going over and coming back is not very large.
I take it the Minister admits that, in fact, Northern Ireland farmers are now competing against our farmers, not only in the British, but in the Irish market as well. Will he not at least take steps to put our farmers on an equal footing in regard to competition with Northern Ireland farmers in our own market, whatever about the English market?
Is the Minister aware that the taxpayers are being fleeced in the present Budget in order to provide this money for farmers in Northern Ireland, and will he not consider this matter, seeing that the farmers here are paying taxes?
I do not see the connection.