asked the Minister for Supplies whether he will consult with the fish and chip restaurant proprietors' organisation with a view to increasing the production of chip potatoes as an adjunct to the bread supply during the coming months.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Chip-Potatoes.
I will be prepared to arrange for a discussion with the organisation in question, if they so desire, for the purpose mentioned in the question. The Deputy should, however, keep in mind that the problem in relation to the supplies of oils and fats affects the production of chip potatoes as carried on by members of the organisation.
Does the Minister appreciate that in Great Britain the consumption of chip potatoes has increased out of all knowledge for the past ten years as a result of the popularisation of potatoes for consumption in this form in which they can be readily carried home as a cooked food much in the same way as bread, and will he therefore seek the co-operation of the fish and chip merchants, who are peculiarly experienced in the preparation of potatoes in this form, with a view to helping out the wheat shortage by making an abundant supply of chip potatoes available to the tenement dwellers and the poorer elements in the community?
It has been only with difficulty that the supplies of oil required by fish and chip merchants have been maintained to them so far and there can be no guarantee that there will be any oils at all in future.
Does not the Minister agree that if the potatoes are to be made available on a large scale the only hope of doing that effectively is to secure that they will be centrally cooked and that the fish and chip merchants' organisation is the most effective means by which this can be done?
I refer the Deputy to the reply I have given.
Why must the Minister wait for the fish and chip merchants to come to him? Why should he not send for them and seek their co-operation?
What astonished me about the question was the suggestion that they had any difficulty in getting in touch with me.
There is no such suggestion. The Minister misunderstands the question.
The Deputy misunderstands the situation.
I asked the Minister if he will take the initiative.
I have taken the initiative for 18 months and kept them in production for 18 months, even though I had to get from some other essential industries the oils and fats required. There is no possibility of increasing the supply of oils and fats. In fact, so far is imported oils are concerned, there will be no more supplies.
Is there a probability of increasing the supply for chip potatoes?
No.
Domestic fats can be used for this purpose if oil is short. Chip potatoes would help to conserve the available flour and oatmeal supply.