asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state for what reasons the report on cattle and dairying industries forwarded to him on 5th August, 1943, by the Committee of Inquiry on Post-Emergency Agricultural Policy, was not published until the 28th October, 1944; and if he will also state what are the Government's intentions regarding the recommendations contained in the report.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Report on Cattle and Dairying Industries.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state for what reason the report on poultry production forwarded to him on 10th March, 1944, by the Committee on Post-Emergency Agricultural Policy was not published by him until the 27th October, 1944; and if he will also state what are the Government's intentions regarding the recommendations contained in the report.
I am answering these two questions (Nos. 34 and 35) together.
It was my intention originally not to publish the interim reports piecemeal but to await the completion of the committee's inquiries. As it became apparent, however, that the deliberations of the committee must continue for some time, and in view of the considerable public interest in the matter, it was subsequently decided that these two reports should be published without waiting for the conclusion of the committee's work.
Steps have already been taken to implement the more important of the recommendations contained in the report on the cattle and dairying industries. These relate to the modification of the general cattle breeding scheme, the registration of dairy cattle, the breeding of bulls of high milk ancestry for licensing purposes, the payment of cash bonuses in respect of such bulls and the reorganisation of cow testing associations.
The recommendations of the committee regarding poultry production are being examined in my Department. I am not yet in a position to state to what extent or how soon they can be implemented.
In view of the vital importance of these reports to the foundational industry of the country, will the Minister say whether he proposes to issue future reports immediately according as they are presented to him and would he say why the present reports have not been circulated to members of the Oireachtas?
It is the intention to publish these interim reports as they come, in future, but I should like to put it to Deputies that even the printing is much slower than it was formerly and by the time the reports are printed, checked and returned to the printers at least a few months elapse after the issue of a report before it can be published. I understand there was a decision at the beginning of the emergency that reports of this kind would not be sent automatically to Deputies but that any Deputy would get a copy if he asked for it at the general office.
Does the Minister realise the importance of having the information contained in these reports scattered as widely as possible and would he say how many copies of these reports it is proposed to print? There is none of the usual information on the reports which would indicate how many copies have been printed. Would the Minister say will copies of these reports now be circulated to every member of the Oireachtas and will he see that an adequate number is printed so that they can be bought throughout the country?
As a matter of fact, it was only yesterday that it was drawn to my attention that Deputies had not got this report and I will make inquiries to see if it can be supplied to all members of the Oireachtas.
Can the Minister say how many copies have been printed?
I am not sure. I could not say.