asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will state the c.i.f. price of each consignment of wheat imported in 1951.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat Imports.
The average c.i.f. cost per ton of each of the six cargoes of wheat imported since 1st January, 1951, is £30 13s. 2d.; £27 15s. 3d.; £29 15s. 7d.;£29 0s. 11d.; £30 1s. 6d. and £31 16s. 1d.
Is the Minister aware that he stated in the House last week that he was not paying a higher price for imported wheat than he was paying to the Irish producer? Now it appears he is paying only £25 a ton to the Irish producer, whereas he is paying £31 for imported wheat.
I have no recollection of the observation to which the Deputy appears to refer, but if he will refer me to the context I will be pleased to discuss it with him.
Is the Minister aware that he published, a short while ago, a report of a Government committee which examined the flour and bread situation, which expressed the view that in 1950 the utilisation of native wheat would involve an additional subsidy of £2,000,000? Will he now admit that, in fact, if we had used more native wheat we would have saved the subsidy?
I have no recollection of it. What I have a recollection of is that there was published by my predecessor a notice to E.C.A. that he would only permit of 225,000 acres last year, whereas in actual fact there was 365,000 acres.
Apart from that, is it a fact that the Minister does not know what he says or what he thinks?
The Minister knows only too well, but he is familiar with the questionable tactics of those who sit opposite him.
When he is in the wrong mood.