asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the estimated carry-over in oats from last season and whether he has consulted the trade regarding the present state of the oats market.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - The Oat Market.
I cannot give precise particulars of the carry-over of oats from last season. As regards the present state of the oats market, there is nothing I can usefully add to the reply I gave Deputy O'Donnell on the 28th September.
Then the Minister has no further advice or help to offer the trade generally, to relieve stagnation?
No.
Can the Minister give even a rough figure of the carry-over? I am not asking for an accurate figure.
That would be impossible. I am sure the Deputy will understand that, if I were to ask merchants for a figure for the carry-over, they might think I had some ulterior motive for seeking the information. They might think I had a question of compensation in mind and I would not get a correct figure.
Will the Minister consider, as a remedy for the possible slump in the price of oats next year, if the present situation is allowed to continue, increasing the price of barley and substituting barley for some of the present oat acreage?
That is a separate question.
Deputy Hughes raises the question of the present oat surplus. Have I raised a separate question?
Certainly.
Very well, I will raise it some other time.