asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the number of applications received by his Department for licences to export dead rabbits to the Continent, and the number which have been refused, and if he will give the reasons for such refusals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export of Rabbits.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (1) the present price per lb. for rabbits exported to Britain; (2) the prices offered per lb. for such rabbits on the Continent, and (3) whether any attempt has been made by his Department to secure more satisfactory prices on the Continent.
I propose, with your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.
Three applications have so far been received to export dead rabbits to the Continent and these have been granted.
(1) The present price paid to exporters for dead rabbits exported to Great Britain is 6d. per lb. for standard quality and 4d. per lb. for second quality.
(2) I have no information as to any reliable offers, at firm prices, for Irish rabbits on the Continent.
(3) Inquiries made by my Department do not reveal that more satisfactory prices could be obtained on the Continent than in Great Britain, taking into account transport costs and difficulties and risks involved in the shipment of a perishable commodity. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, exporters are being permitted to sell rabbits freely to continental countries and they will doubtless sell at the best price they can get.
I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary is it a fact that Mr. Con Murphy, of Cork, made arrangements for a shipment of rabbits to the Continent at a price far higher than the price obtainable in Britain and I want to know whether he has been granted a permit and if so, when?
I understand that Messrs. Murphy were refused a licence before the present arrangement was entered into.
Have they been granted a permit?
May I express regret to the House for my tardy appearance and explain it? I was charged to receive a delegation of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and was for a moment delayed. The licence application referred to by the Deputy has been granted, together with some others.
That is better.