asked the Minister for Agriculture if he can state the quantity of the 1941 crop of (1) wheat, (2) barley, and (3) oats, which was (a) produced, and (b) sold.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Production and Sale of Cereal Crops.
Particulars of the crop areas and yields of the 1941 harvest were published in March, 1942; issue of the Irish Trade Journal. I am not in a position to state the quantities of wheat, barley and oats of the 1941 harvest which were sold. Sales of these cereals are still taking place and large quantities of which no records were available were disposed of by direct sale between farmer and farmer.
Is it not true that merchants engaged in the purchase of cereals were obliged to keep a record of their purchases?
Where they had a licence to purchase, yes.
For that reason, would it not be possible for the Minister to give the approximate amount purchased by the merchants?
Yes, in the case of licensed merchants.