asked the Minister for Agriculture whether (a) he has seen a report in a weekly paper of the 9th April, 1949, where it was stated that the British Ministry of Food has reduced the price to be paid for Irish eggs to 2/6 per dozen while increasing the average yearly price paid to British farmers to 4/1; that the reason for this was that Irish eggs came too quickly and that Britain did not want further multiplication of Irish eggs because our hens were fed on dollar maize; (b) he will say if, and in what respect, the report is correct, and (c) it is advisable to continue to expand production in this sphere.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Irish Eggs in Britain.
I have seen the report referred to by the Deputy and I can assure him that there is no foundation for the suggestion made in the report.
Britain is prepared to purchase all the eggs we can send for at least the next three years, irrespective of the source of the feeding stuffs on which the hens are fed. As a price of 2/6 per dozen for hen eggs is guaranteed to poultry-keepers for all the eggs they market up to 31st January, 1951, it cer tainly is advisable to expand production.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, surely the report is correct in so far as it states that the price of Irish eggs has been altered to 2/6 per dozen while at the same time the overall yearly average price of British eggs has been increased to 4/1.
There is a certain amount of accuracy and a certain amount of misrepresentation in that statement.