asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the present position of the pig industry, he will consider the advisability of making an Emergency Order whereby all pigs can be sold in a free market, regardless of price or quota restrictions, consumers' interests to be protected by controlling bacon prices and fixing those at a level sufficient to encourage expansion in production.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pig Industry.
I have considered this matter and do not regard it advisable that fixed prices for pigs and factory quotas should be abolished.
Is not the Minister aware that bacon curers were prepared to pay more for pigs than the price fixed by him and, in view of the fact that they were prepared to sell bacon at the fixed price, what justification is there for ensuring handsome profits on the amount of pigs handled at the present time?
The Deputy should not assume that that is our object—to ensure a handsome profit for the factories. The price of pigs has been increased all round.
I am aware of that.
I think it is better that we should try to get every farmer in the country, wherever he may be, or wherever the factories may be, the best possible price for his pigs rather than leave prices to fix themselves.
Must not the Minister admit that his action in fixing the price for pigs is preventing curers who are willing to pay a higher price for them from doing so? Were not certain curers prosecuted for paying the higher price, although they were, at the same time, selling bacon within the fixed price?
There is another view, and it is that if we agreed that curers could pay more—and we have admitted that in the last increase in the price of pigs—then we should make them pay it all round.
Is the Minister aware that, even in the most remote districts of the country at the present moment, pigs will command the maximum price?
No. Strange as it may appear, the Pigs and Bacon Commission have had to step in in certain markets to see that the fixed price was paid.
Does not the Minister realise that it is the quota that is operating against this, and that the local curers are sometimes prevented from buying more because their quota is filled?
Not now.
That is the position. The whole thing is absurd.
Is the Minister aware that, even though producers could get more than the fixed price for their pigs, his inspectors attending markets have ordered them to sell at the fixed price? That happened at Edgeworthstown.
Does the Minister realise that it is the quota that is operating against the possibility of having buyers present at the markets? If the quota of a local factory is filled, then that factory is no longer a potential buyer in the market.
Under the present arrangement a factory is not prevented from taking pigs, even though its quota is filled.
Is not this whole question of the price of pigs versus the price of bacon due to this fact, that the bacon curers must get their 100 per cent. profit? They have to get that regardless of their turnover, the supply of pigs available, or anything else. I am told that is the reason for the difference in price between what the producer gets and what the consumer pays for his bacon. The curers must have their profit. They are keeping the same staff even though their output has been reduced.
Will the Minister give any sound reason as to why there should be a fixed price for pigs if the consumer is protected in the price that he has to pay for bacon?
I have already given the Deputy what I regard as a sound reason. I do not want the Deputy to agree with me.
I would like to if I could.
If we thought that the factories could give more for pigs, and still charge the same price for bacon, then they should be compelled to give it to everybody and not to the few who are looking for it.
Does the Minister realise that producers are most anxious to have a free market for their pigs while permitting the Minister to fix a price for bacon so as to protect the consumers? That is all the producers are asking. Protect the consumer by all means so that the price of bacon will not hit the ceiling. In present circumstances, the Minister cannot justify his action in fixing a price for pigs.
I want to justify this, that a curer, say, in the south can pay more than a curer in the north and must be made pay more. That is what we have tried to achieve.
Is the Minister prepared to give the free market a trial for a month?
I do not agree with trying a thing if it is wrong.