asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (i) the quantity and varieties of Scotch seed oats imported this year; (ii) the price paid; (iii) whether a licence to import such seed oats is necessary; (iv) how many have been granted to date; (v) the names of the firms who have secured those licences; and (vi) if further applications for similar facilities from other firms will be similarly treated.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports of Oats.
Licences have been granted to 11 firms in the current season for the importation of 185 1/2 tons commercial Scotch seed oats. The bulk of this seed is comprised of potato and black oats. It is understood that the price paid by the merchants is in the region of 60/- per barrel landed in this country.
The following are the firms to whom licences have been granted:—J. Bolger and Co. Ltd., Ferns, County Wexford; E. Morrin and Son, Ltd., Baltinglass, County Wicklow; W.J. Crawford, Ltd., Monaghan; County Cavan Stores Ltd., Cavan; John Connolly and Co. Ltd., Ballinagh, County Cavan; Patrick McGee, Kilnaleck, County Cavan; F.R. McConkey, Cootehill, County Cavan; P. Ronan, Ballingeary, County Cork; C.J. Scott, Carndonagh, County Donegal; W.W. Warnock and Co. Ltd., Dublin; Wm. Power and Co. Ltd., Waterford.
These licences were granted with a view to providing growers who were prepared to pay the price asked with a supply of fresh seed. In view of the stocks of seed available from home sources, I decided at the beginning of March to discontinue the issue of import licences and I do not propose to grant any further such licences in the current season.