asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will direct the Pigs and Bacon Export Committee to allocate licences for the export of sows on the same principle as that adopted by his Department for the allocation of cattle and lamb export licences, in view of the fact that the present proposal to allocate all these licences to the Pigs and Bacon Export Committee itself deprives the members of the Pig Dealers' Association of all share in their legitimate trade.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export Licences for Sows.
The Pigs and Bacon Export Committee have allocated licences for the export of sows to exporters at the normal rate of 500 per week plus an additional number of 50 per cent., i.e., a total of 750 per week. The committee have also informed exporters that if they require additional licences applications for such licences will be dealt with by the committee in the light of the number of sows available for export and the possible need for conserving breeding stocks.
I may add that the Pigs and Bacon Commission, having advertised that they are prepared to purchase sows for shipment, will also ship any suitable sows offered to them at their collecting centres.
Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that the decision arrived at to keep all the sow export licences for the Pigs and Bacon Commission has been altered?
That decision was made by the Pigs and Bacon Commission at a time when they thought there would be only 500 licences a week available, and it was impossible to divide them with any sort of equity. Subsequent to that, however, the British Minister of Food stated they were prepared to grant additional licences and then, on the 1st of the month, licences were sent to the trade.
And the pig dealers have now got the licences?
Yes.
That is all right.