asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the present price of the several cuts and descriptions of meat in Dublin and if he will state whether his Department has yet completed its inquiries into the question of devising a more effective system of control of meat prices.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Meat Prices.
The present prices of the several cuts and descriptions of meat in Dublin are as laid down in the Fresh Meat (Maximum Prices) Order, 1948 (S. I. No. 94 of 1948). The second part of the Deputy's question is not understood since no inquiry of the nature referred to was contemplated. In so far as the fixed prices are not adhered to by the trade I am prepared to investigate immediately any case of overcharging that is reported to my Department.
Is the Minister prepared to consider the victuallers' point of view in this particular matter and have their costings investigated in view of the recent increases in prices in the Dublin market?
Do I understand that the Deputy is now asking me whether I am prepared to grant the victuallers the right further to increase the price of meat?
I am asking the Minister if he is prepared to consider their representations in the matter and have their point of view investigated because of the recent increase in the price of live cattle in the Dublin market where they usually purchase their supplies and in view of the fact that there is a possibility that the price of fat cattle will be increased in the British market——
Thank you.
——and that there is no likelihood of a decrease in the price of live fat cattle in Dublin.
Is the Deputy making a case for a reduction in the price of cattle or for an increase in the price of meat?
I am making the case that the Minister is responsible now for fixing an economic price at which persons engaged in the victualling trade can sell meat.
Is the Deputy aware that his colleagues sitting by his side on the Opposition Benches have already denounced me for the increase I gave two months ago?
I do not think my colleagues on this side of the House have denounced the Minister at all for such a thing.