asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, when scouring the world for supplies of animal feeding stuffs, he will purchase any quantities of maize meal of satisfactory quality which may be available at an economic price from the feeders' viewpoint.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchase of Maize Meal.
I am fully aware of the necessity of importing, at an economic price, animal feeding stuffs of satisfactory quality to supplement indigenous supplies.
Is it the intention of the Minister to abandon the policy of prohibiting imports of maize meal, which was for so long the practice of his obscurantist predecessor?
There is no such prohibition practised.
On the contrary——
The Deputy is now arguing.
I am not arguing; I am stating the plain fact. There was an absolute prohibition on the import of maize meal.
There was not, and there is not.
Question No. 13.
I deny that.
There is no prohibition on maize meal imports.
And there is not going to be?
There is no prohibition.
Question No. 13 will be postponed. I have called the question and the Deputy paid no attention.
I am trying to get an answer from the Minister with regard to imports of maize meal. The Minister is trying to wriggle and prevaricate.
When I called the question, the Deputy paid no attention.
The devil a hair I care; I can put it down again.
Perhaps the Deputy will allow the Minister to state the Order of Business?
With reluctance, inasmuch as my question No. 13 has not been taken. Deputies have certain rights and one of them is the right to ask questions.