asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will indicate the reasons for the present abnormally low production of eggs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Egg Production.
The present production of eggs is not abnormally low for the time of the year.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is the Minister aware that for many years his Department has been campaigning to secure the early hatching of pullets in order to avoid seasonal shortages? Is he further aware that, as a result of the intensive mechanisation of the poultry industry, early hatched pullets have been produced during the last couple of years; yet, this seasonal shortage exists? How does the Minister explain it?
By the very simple explanation that I have been Minister for Agriculture for 18 months and that no amount of mechanisation will persuade pullets that were hatched nine months ago to lay eggs mechanically. I agree with the Deputy that the object should be so to breed the fowl population as to ensure that there will be willing pullets at work at this time of the year. It is to that end that aged hens have been dispatched elsewhere.
Arising out of that reply, does the Minister not think that the present shortage is due in the main to the Minister's massacre of middle-aged hens?
No. It is largely due to the fact that housewives will not exercise the foresight to buy a tin of waterglass in the month of June and waterglass four or five dozen eggs to be used for cooking in the month of November.
There are plenty of eggs in the Sunday Independent.