asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has read a report of a speech delivered by Dr. Paul Miller, E.C.A. Administrator in Ireland, at the opening of a course for members of Macra na Feirme at Kinsale on 7th November last to the effect that we were spending more money in Ireland on importing maize from the United States than on any other commodity while we could grow feeding barley on our own land if limed and fertilised, and could get the average production per acre that was being got in the U.S.A. and whether he has considered this statement and has any comments to make on it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Statement of E.C.A. Administrator.
The Deputy will have doubtless read the statement made by me at the meeting of the Kilkenny County Committee of Agriculture on last Monday, and will realise that, before making any specific recommendation to Irish farmers on this matter, it was necessary to check our information as to yield and quality very carefully.
Now that the Minister has begun to accept the policy of Fianna Fáil, the policy of economic self-reliance, I would ask him if he considers 32/- a barrel for feeding barley a sufficiently attractive one to induce the farmers to expand their acreage of barley next year?
As the first part of the Deputy's speech is untrue, the second part does not arise.
To the pure all things are pure. That is why the Minister misrepresents the Deputy.
The Minister has referred to a statement he made to the county committee of agriculture a few days ago, when he said it was proposed to give the farmers 32/- a barrel for barley next season. In view of the fact that it appears to be a matter of urgent necessity to get the farmers to increase their acreage of barley, is it not reasonable to expect that the farmers would be put in a position to know how they stand?
The Deputy is not asking a question.
In view of the fact that the Minister mentioned certain fertilisers that would be necessary for the proper production of this barley crop, would he give the Dáil an indication as to what these fertilisers would cost per acre to the farmer?
That is a separate question.
The terms proposed by me at Kilkenny represent a larger financial reward per statute acre for a cereal crop than has ever been proposed to the farmers of this country in recorded history.
It does not.
Will the Minister say when he is going to abandon his tillage policy?