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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 16 Nov 1939

Vol. 77 No. 11

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Maize Meal.

asked the Minister for Supplies whether he is aware that the price of maize meal in Northern Ireland is less than £6 per ton ex mill, whereas the price of maize meal in Éire is £11 2s. 6d. ex mill; and if he will state what steps he proposes to take to correct this disparity in price.

I am informed that the price of maize meal ex mill in Northern Ireland is £7 per ton and not less than £6 per ton as stated by the Deputy. The price for this commodity in Éire quoted by the Deputy is the average retail price and not an ex-mill price, the latter averaging £10 14s. per ton. The price for maize meal in Northern Ireland is, I understand, controlled and is approximately that ruling prior to the outbreak of war; unlike the current prices prevailing in Éire it bears little or no relation to the present world market prices for maize. With regard to the last part of the question, the only action open to me which would effectively remove the disparity would be to subsidise the price. I am not prepared to accept that course.

Is the Minister aware that the present ex-mill price of Indian meal has gone up nearly £1 since my question was put down? The present ex-mill price, which was paid by me about three days ago, is £11 15s. Is the Minister further aware that those who are depending upon supplies of this commodity for animal feeding stuffs found, on being unable to pay for Indian meal, that when they went to buy bran and pollard to take its place the price of those two commodities had been increased by £3 per ton?

Of course the Minister is not, but what in the name of God are we to do?

Find out the facts.

Those are the facts.

They are not the facts.

They are the facts. I say here now that I paid £11 15s. ex mill for Indian meal last Thursday, and I say that the price of bran and pollard has gone up £3 a ton in the last week. I dare the Minister for Agriculture to get up and deny it. Those are the facts as I know them and see them, and if the Minister is not aware of them he is being deceived by those who are giving him information. Does the Minister for Agriculture deny what I have said?

I say the Deputy is probably wrong.

The question is addressed to the Minister for Supplies.

Neither of them knows. What, in the name of God, are they doing, or what are they being paid for?

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