asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, in view of the present desperate position of our pig-feeding and bacon-curing industries, he will take steps to abolish the Pigs and Bacon Marketing Board.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pigs and Bacon Marketing Board.
A number of factors outside the control of the Pigs and Bacon Commission have contributed to the decline in the number of pigs being fed in the country and to the reduced supplies of bacon pigs reaching the factories. I am, therefore, not prepared to accept the implication that the present position of the pig-feeding and bacon-curing industries is attributable to any fault of the commission in the performance of its functions, and am satisfied that the maintenance of control of these industries is in the best interests of the community as a whole.
Is the Minister satisfied with the present pig population?
If the Deputy had asked me that question, I would have said "No".
Is the Minister satisfied that the people in the county that he and I represent cannot get bacon?
Not much, anyway.
Is the Minister satisfied that people have to buy mutton and beef as a substitute for bacon, and is he not aware that the farmer or the labourer in the country would rather have one pound of bacon than mutton or beef?
Is the report that is current in the country correct, that it is the considered policy of the Minister's Department to put pigs out of production as being competitors with human beings for the consumption of food?
I think there are two questions to be answered there.
Is the Minister aware that many bacon factories are reducing their staffs, in some instances by almost 75 per cent.? Is he aware that included in the factories affected is that of Messrs. Donnelly of Cork Street; and is he taking any steps to prevent such a great addition to the unemployment figures?
With regard to Deputy Esmonde's question, if pigs were to become competitors with human beings for food, naturally we would discourage pigs rather than human beings—I think everybody will agree with that.
Is it the considered policy of the Minister at the present moment deliberately to discourage the production of pigs as being competitors with human beings for food?
No, because human beings have a sufficiency of cereals, potatoes and other things; but if it should happen that these commodities in any way became short, from the point of view of feeding the people, then we would have to take active steps to discourage pig production.
Is the Minister aware the rumour exists, that that is the policy of the Department?
I am not aware of that.
Is the Minister aware that, in the absence of artificial manures, we require much more farmyard manure, and that pigs are particularly useful in that respect? Is the Minister also aware that the cost of stall-feeding cattle is rising?
That is a multiple supplementary question.
Is the Minister of opinion that it would be desirable to have more pigs in the country?
Yes, if I were sure there were sufficient materials for feeding them; but I think it would be most undesirable if pigs were to take foodstuffs from human beings.
Will the Minister say whether, on his appreciation of the food situation in the country, he considers that it is desirable that there should not be more pigs?
I do not think there is sufficient food for more pigs.