asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will indicate how he proposes to provide alternative work for those who may be disemployed by the proposed withdrawal of the subsidy on wheatenmeal, by orienting to mills where this commodity is produced, the assembling of wheat maize and compound feed manufacture, milling on commission and other cereal assembly work, in view of the fact that the number of persons engaged in these trades is already sufficient to meet current demands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Withdrawal of Wheatenmeal Subsidy.
In the reply given to Deputy Hickey on this subject on the 2nd November an indication was given in general terms of the measures that could be taken with a view to the safeguarding of the employment of workers in the wheatenmeal industry, should what I regard as the unreasonable fears of certain millers be realised. The Deputy is under a misapprehension in thinking that the maximum volume of employment in the handling and processing of cereals and other feeding stuffs has been reached. A considerable expansion of this type of business is expected with the increase in the numbers of live stock.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary considered that in view of the fact that compulsory tillage is no longer in force and that there is a possible prospect of a decrease in output from the tillage acreage, the mills that had been handling the assemblage of seeds and other such activities will not have enough activities to contend with without taking into consideration the mills that will not now be engaged in the production of wheatenmeal?
As I told the Deputy, it is expected that with an increase in the numbers of live stock and a consequent rise in the use of artificial feeding stuffs the mills will have adequate work. I understand that one mill principally concerned produces between 40 and 50 per cent. of the total output of wheatenmeal and that mill does not expect to have any difficulty in finding sufficient work to keep their employees engaged.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary say if the undertaking which the Minister for Agriculture gave to the Dáil that no worker would lose his employment because of the withdrawal of the wheatenmeal subsidy was based entirely on the expectation which he has just mentioned?
I cannot say whether it was or not, but it is expected that because of the substantial rise in live stock and the rise in the use of compound and artificial feeding stuffs there is no need for any person at present employed to lose his employment.
May I take it from the Parliamentary Secretary's reply that it has now been definitely decided to withdraw the subsidy on wheatenmeal?
That is a separate question.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has received a copy of the resolution passed by the Society of Medical Officers of Health viewing with consternation the proposal to withdraw the subsidy on wholemeal flour, as calculated to exercise a most prejudicial effect on the nutrition of the country; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that one of the reasons given by him for the proposed withdrawal was that whole-meal flour had a limited dietetic value, he will now reconsider his decision.
A copy of the resolution referred to was received on 18th October, 1949, and the contents considered prior to the answering of Deputy Hickey's question in the matter on the 2nd November. There is nothing I have to add to the reply given to that question.