asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether in consultation with the Minister for Agriculture he will consider the conversion of the industrial alcohol factories into factories for the conversion of surplus potatoes into animal feeding stuffs on the lines adopted recently in Great Britain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Alcohol Factories.
I understand that the present equipment of the industrial alcohol factories is not suitable for the purpose indicated in the question.
Will the Minister consider putting an end to the farce of these alcohol factories, pulling the guts out of them and putting in machinery which will enable some use to be made of these potatoes as is being done in Great Britain? There is going to be a great shortage of feeding stuffs for pigs in the winter and the Minister should convert these potatoes into pig-feeding instead of into industrial alcohol which nobody wants and which is costing the country at least £50,000 a year.
That is a question the answer to which would require some consideration. The Deputy should put it down on the Order Paper.
I did. (Question quoted.)
I answered that question but not the Deputy's supplementary which, obviously, was his principal question.
Will the Minister consider taking any steps that may be necessary to enable these factories to convert the potatoes into something useful?
The first question which would have to be considered would be whether it was necessary to convert them at all.
Is the Minister considering the matter?
If the Deputy puts down a serious question, it will be given serious consideration.
Is the Minister considering that possibility?
That question is not on the Order Paper. If the Deputy puts down that question, I shall answer it.
Will the Minister inquire into the steps recently taken in Great Britain in connection with this matter?
I do not want to be discourteous to the Deputy but that question is not on the Order Paper.