asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether, before the Dáil adjourns for the Easter Recess, he will make a statement to the House on the work done and the decisions taken at the recent Food Conference held in London, particularly in relation to their effect on this country; and if he will also state whether the Government has received an invitation to join the Food and Agricultural Organisation; and, if not, whether, following his experience at the conference, it is now the intention to apply for membership to the Director-General.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - London Food Conference.
As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the Deputy to the reply given by the Taoiseach to the earlier question to-day on this subject.
A report on the work of the conference will be submitted to the Government at an early date and their approval sought for any action necessary to give effect to the resolutions adopted at the conference.
No invitation to join the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation has been received by the Government. I am not in a position to anticipate a Government decision on the question of making application for membership of the organisation.
I asked a similar question on a previous occasion in regard to the matter of this country applying for membership of the Food and Agriculture Organisation. In view of the recent experience of the Minister and his colleague, the Minister for Industry and Commerce, at the Food Conference in London, I felt that the Minister and the Government might now decide to apply for membership of this international organisation which is an important organisation so far as this country is concerned as being a country interested in the sale of surplus food. I should like to have more information from the Minister, if it is at all possible. I do not want to ask that the House should get an opportunity to discuss it on the adjournment but surely the Minister and the Government ought to be in a position now to make up their minds as to what their intentions are.
In the Taoiseach's Government there is only one man who can answer that question. The rest of them will say: "Yes" or "No" as directed.