asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he fixed the price of salmon for export at 4/- per lb. until the end of the present month and at 2/6 per lb. as from May onwards; whether before fixing these prices he consulted any organisation of men connected with the salmon fishing industry; and, if so, whether he will specify the organisation or organisations so consulted; whether he is aware that the price of salmon is not controlled in England, and that if permitted to sell in the open market Irish fishermen can obtain 8/6 per lb. at least for their catch, if permitted to export salmon directly; whether he is aware that the men engaged in salmon fishing incur heavy expenses in connection with their industry, the operating expenses of which have more than doubled during the past two years; and whether in the circumstances he will permit the export of salmon by the fishermen direct to the British market, or in the alternative, obtain for the Irish catch a price commensurate with the British retail price of 14/6 to 17/6 per lb.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Salmon.
I did not fix a price for salmon on export and, therefore, had no consultation on that aspect of the matter with any organisation here. Early this year the British Ministry of Food announced that all licences authorising the import of salmon from this country were being withdrawn as from 28th February, and that thereafter the sole importer of our salmon would be that Ministry, by whom payment would be made to the senders at the following rates:—
From 1st March to 30th April at 4/- per lb.; thereafter to end of season at 2/6 per lb.
A meeting of exporters was then convened and the position was explained to them. Subsequently, representatives of my Department and of the exporters engaged in negotiations with officers of the Ministry of Food, and as the latter declined to improve upon the prices named, the subsequent discussions centred upon details of procedure under the new arrangements. I understand that the price of salmon is not controlled in Britain; but, as an open market no longer exists for our exporters, there is no purpose served by a comparison of prices as they are, with what they might be in other circumstances.