Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Apr 1943

Vol. 89 No. 13

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Closing of Beef Canning Factories.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether he has issued an Order closing, or otherwise caused to be closed, the beef canning factories; and, if so, if he will state under what authority this has been done, for what period of time, for what purpose, and the penalties, if any, which are threatened against canning factories who continue to carry on business; and if he will state whether he is aware of the injury that will be caused by such closing both to the workers in the factories, and to farmers; and if he will, therefore, allow factories desirous of remaining open to continue to do so.

No Order was made by me in this matter. The decision to suspend canning in April and May was taken on the initiative of the majority of the canners themselves. The temporary stoppage relates only to the canning of stewed steak for the export trade. It was necessary to overhaul the machinery in all the factories and it was considered an opportune time to do so now when suitable cattle are so hard to procure.

If, as the Minister says, there is no Order, then canners who want to go on can go on?

Not exactly.

That is the trouble. Is the Minister aware that this Order has caused a drop of 12/- to 15/- per head on bulls from last Wednesday until to-day, and left old cows unsaleable? Is the Minister also aware that those old cows are uneconomic, and consume a lot of valuable food? Does not an Order like this interfere with the rights and freedom of farmers under the Constitution — an Order compelling them to hold up stuff for which there is a market until the people concerned in the factories are in a position to buy economically? Also is the Minister aware——

This is a multiple question.

——that all this has been started by the canners who did not buy cows at an economic price?

I do not think the Deputy is right in that. I do not think the hardship inflicted on producers is anything like what the Deputy implies. There were very few cows or bulls coming on the market for canning, and I do not think it is any great hardship on producers to hold over those cows or bulls for a few months, or to dispose of them to butchers.

Will the Minister say, if there is no Order preventing the operation of the factories, whether it is possible for any particular factory to continue to operate at the present time?

They cannot export this product unless it is inspected by a veterinary officer or inspector of my Department, and there is no such officer available to them at the moment..

Why has the Minister taken that action?

I outlined in my reply that it was necessary to close the factories some time during the year—they were closed last year, too—for overhauling, and so on, and this was considered the most opportune time.

Does the Minister consider it wise to shut down all the factories at the one time? Does he realise that he is leaving a gap in the trade, and that as a result the price of bulls and cows has dropped in the market this morning? Does the Minister consider that that is a wise policy? Does he realise that the closing of those factories imposes a great hardship on people who have stock to sell for that purpose at the moment?

I must protest that I always realised the importance of canning in this country when Deputies opposite did not realise it. The fact is that the factories always closed down at this time of the year for overhauling.

The Minister does not know what he is saying. In the market this morning the price of bulls was down by 15/-, and in Mullingar yesterday the people had to bring their cows home again. Those cows are uneconomic, and are eating good food that should be given to other animals. They were worth £10 or £12 a week ago and they are worth nothing to-day.

I know all that.

The position might not have been so bad if the closing down of those factories had been postponed until the month of May, but this is really the month to get rid of all those old cows.

If there were veterinary inspectors to inspect the work at all the canning factories recently, can the Minister say why there are no veterinary inspectors to inspect the canning at the few factories that now want to work?

Because the big majority of the factories agreed to close down. It is obvious that, if one factory held out and tried to carry on, it could get cheap cattle and make a big profit.

So the Minister has deliberately withdrawn the veterinary inspectors although they were there to do the work.

Would I be right in saying that a particular firm who were supporters of the Minister's Party made representations to the Minister, because it suited their purpose, to close down the whole industry for the time being?

Only two small factories out of ten wanted to carry on.

Who made representations?

All the big factories wanted to close down.

Who made representations to the Minister?

Eight factories out of ten.

Would I be allowed to raised this matter on the Adjournment?

I shall decide between that question and Deputy Murphy's.

Top
Share