asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state what steps are being taken to secure and make available to farriers a sufficient supply of iron for horse-shoeing.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Iron for Horse-Shoeing.
It is not now possible to obtain supplies of shoeing iron from outside sources. If and when the steel works at Haulbowline are re-opened, it is possible that supplies of suitable iron will be available. In the meantime, farriers will have to rely principally on scrap iron within the country for the making of horse-shoes.
Will the Minister say if there is any means of getting scrap iron for the farriers in the country? Does he realise the acute crisis that has arisen in certain areas since a blacksmith has nothing to put on a horse's hoof? Will the Minister consider establishing a central depot to which farriers can apply for supplies of suitable scrap for conversion into horse shoeing iron?
That has been done. An association of scrap iron merchants has been formed, and that organisation is supervising the collecting and arranging for the distribution of available supplies.
Will the Minister say to me, if I apply to him on behalf of the farriers in my area, or on behalf of a group of farriers in my constituency, for supplies of iron — giving, of course, suitable guarantees for payment — that the iron will be available?
I will guarantee nothing of the sort.
Will the Minister guarantee that they will get a share of whatever iron is going?
To the extent to which suitable iron is available it is being collected and distributed upon an equitable basis amongst the various members concerned.
If a blacksmith comes to me and says that he has no iron and asks what is he to do, can I tell him to write to the Minister, or to any company that is being formed, to ascertain if he can get a supply of iron?
There can be no guarantee that there is iron available. Horse-shoeing iron used to be imported, but we cannot import it now.
As regards whatever iron there is, will it be equitably distributed and not used for purposes less essential than the manufacture of horse shoes? The Minister says that he is having the available supply of iron collected. Will he take steps to see that everyone will get a share of that?
The collection of scrap iron, and its resale, being undertaken by commercial organisations. The only arrangement I have made was to ensure that there would be no overlapping in the activities of these organisations — to arrange for the formation amongst them of an organisation to ensure that the work of collection will be done efficiently without overlapping. There can be no certainty, however, that their efforts will result either in the collection of all the scrap available or that the actual amount collected will be sufficient to meet the requirements of the people concerned.
Will the Minister consider arranging that, whatever portion of that scrap is suitable for horse-shoeing purposes, will be extracted and placed in a central depot for distribution?
I do not know that that is practicable.
I imagine that an immense amount of suitable iron is being used for non-essential purposes. If it were collected and were converted into horse shoes some effort would be made to supply what is becoming a very serious deficiency. Will the Minister consider that?
There is no good considering something that I do not think is practicable. The circumstances attending the collection of scrap iron are such that you cannot have effective control over the supply of it for the purpose of ensuring distribution on the lines suggested by the Deputy.
Is not the situation so serious that there is no iron for horse shoes throughout the country and that the work cannot be carried on?
I cannot make horse shoes out of wood.
Will the Minister say that it will be got?
There is no use in the Deputy getting indignant. The supplies are not there, and no amount of indignation or speech-making will put the supplies there.
There is enough iron around the Phoenix Park and Stephen's Green to shoe half the horses in the country. Will the Minister see that the iron is collected?
Is the Minister satisfied that the Army is not getting more than is essential?
I would require notice of that question.
If you took down the railings in these public parks it would go some way to meet the deficiency.
He does not give a damn.