asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in order to ensure that the necessary acreage will be put under sugar beet cultivation for the coming season, he will consult the representatives of beet growers with a view to fixing a price sufficiently attractive to secure beet production under present difficult conditions.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Beet.
The Deputy is no doubt aware that the price offered for sugar beet of the 1942 crop has now been increased to 70/- per ton.
I do not think that that is a sufficient answer to my question. I addressed this question to the Minister for Supplies who, I presume, fixed the price of beet for the coming year. I am aware of the fact that representatives of the beet growers waited on the Minister for Agriculture and they were informed that it was not his concern and they were referred to another Department. Why were the representatives of the beet growers not consulted before this price was fixed?
They were.
Why should they be treated in a manner different from other members of the community?
They were consulted.
By whom?
It is the Beet Sugar Board that fixes the price for beet.
Does the Minister assure me the price is fixed by the Sugar Board, and not by the Government? Has the price as announced been fixed by the Sugar Board?
The board recommended that price and the Government agreed to it. The board are offering that price to growers.
The Minister tells us that the board fixed the price?
So they did, and they are prepared to pay it to the growers.