asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will meet the Minister for Food in Great Britain with a view to discovering what produce can be made available on the 12,000,000 acres of arable land in this country which would be saleable in Great Britain, or whether it is the considered policy of the British Government to prefer carrying foodstuffs thousands of miles overseas in preference to the supplies available at Irish ports within four hours' sailing distance of British distribution centres.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - British and Irish Produce.
I fear I cannot see eye to eye with the Deputy as regards the value of these suggestions. I can, however, assure him that all suitable action is being, and will continue to be, taken with a view to the advantageous disposal of our surplus agricultural produce.
Am I not correct in saying that the substance of this question goes to the foundation of all our difficulties? We are told daily by British Ministers that it is a most unpatriotic thing for a citizen of Great Britain to consume anything which sailors are required to carry over an expanse of sea. There are in this country 12,000,000 acres of arable land which must be able to produce something which would fill the stomachs of the British people. Whatever is produced on that arable land spares space in ships coming over the sea. Is it not possible for two rational men to sit down on opposite sides of a table and determine what those commodities are and, that being done, arrange for their production here forthwith at a price— even an economic price, and not more than that—which would enable our producers to have an economic livelihood? Is it credible that two rational men cannot do that? If we assume that the Minister for Agriculture in this country is a rational man, we must assume that the Minister for Food in London is a lunatic; if we assume that the Minister for Food in London is a rational man, then we must assume that our Minister is a lunatic.
Supplementary questions must be brief.
The sooner something is done about it the better.
We have not lost sight of the question.
It seems to me that somebody has lost sight of it.