asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that many farmers in Sligo and Mayo cannot dispose of their barley because it is not up to the standard required for malting purposes, viz., 52 lbs. bushel weight; and if he will grant licences to millers to purchase this lower grade barley for animal feeding or other purposes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disposal of Barley.
I understand that the barley grown by farmers in Sligo and Mayo is mainly intended for feeding to their own stock and not for sale for malting purposes. Such barley, if disposed of to millers for grinding and re-sale, would be an expensive feeding stuff, having regard to the present price of barley. I do not think, therefore, that there is an adequate case for giving licences to millers to buy barley for, grinding for animal feeding.
Will the Minister consider taking the control off the price of barley, and in one six months there will be no surplus of barley?
The Deputy who has asked the question appears to think that, if we take the control off, the price will go down.
Will the Minister take control off now? I told him to do that two years ago in the case of oats and there is plenty of oats now.
The Minister is probably aware that there is a surplus of barley in these two counties, but the millers are not licensed to purchase such surplus. Is he prepared to give licences to millers to purchase from those who have a surplus?
I think the Deputy will see that there is a difficulty there. I presume the Deputy means by giving a licence that it be given at a reduced rate because it is inferior barley, but my experience is that, if that were done, it would be very hard to control the price of barley any more.
Why does the Minister want to control the price of barley?
Surely the Minister will appreciate the inconvenience which these farmers have to undergo? As a matter of fact, it has happened that they have taken the barley to millers and the millers, on examination, have found that it was not up to the standard required for malting purposes. They have had to bring that barley home again and now have it on their hands and cannot dispose of it. Surely it is the Minister's duty, in such circumstances, to facilitate those people in some way or other?
Will the Minister take the control off barley?
There is no such request in the question.
The question asked is whether the individuals who have a surplus of barley in Sligo and Mayo will be relieved of their predicament. I am telling the Minister what he has to do: if the control is taken off barley, within a week those who have malting barley will be getting a better price and those with barley unfit for malting will find an eager demand for it. That is all he has to do, and his bureaucrats in Upper Merrion Street will be relieved of a very difficult task. If he does that, the whole barley position will be relieved and the only people who will suffer will be the brewers, who will have to pay the value of the barley, instead of getting it at half price, as at present.
Is the Minister not prepared to do something in this matter to relieve them in some way or other and to enable them to get rid of the surplus?
I know the problem the Deputy has in mind but, as I have pointed out, barley has not been offered for sale in the County Sligo or County Mayo before this year.
It has been offered to millers.
We want to maintain, if we can, the price of barley as it is, notwithstanding Deputy Dillon's opinion, for which I have no respect whatever in this case.
The Minister is a foolish man, as what I taught him proved true.
In the past it may have proved to be right. If we are to maintain that price, I am afraid we must keep the control as it is. It would be impossible to maintain the price otherwise.
Surely it is possible for the Minister to grant licences to millers to buy this under-grade barley so that they will be able to use it for some other purpose, or dispose of it in any way they wish?
The Deputy knows that wheat offals are selling at £10 a ton ex-mill, and anyone buying barley for grinding for sale would have to buy it at a price which would enable him to sell it at about that price.
With all respect to the Minister, he must be daft. There is not enough bran or pollard for feeding at present.
There is plenty of bran and pollard in the country.
The Minister is daft; there is not half enough.
The Deputy can buy all he likes.
I would buy 50 tons of it.