asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that traders in County Galway with whom customers desire to lodge special ration pages entitling them to extra flour rations are refusing to accept such pages because no arrangements have been made with flour millers to replace flour issued on such pages, and whether he proposes to take any action to remedy this unsatisfactory position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Extra Flour Rations.
I refer the Deputy to the reply given on Thursday last (22nd instant) to a question on this subject which was put down by Deputy Lemass.
Is the Minister aware that bakers are refusing to supply any bread on the strength of these pages? Will he consider withdrawing the pages, so as not to be making fools of these people who are told by the bakers that they cannot get these extra rations because they will not get the flour from the millers to replace the extra ration?
Is it not farcical to have the pretence of a special ration scheme by which particular individual workers are supposed to get higher rations of bread when, in fact, traders will not supply bread on these pages because they cannot replace the flour, the Minister having made no arrangements for replacing the flour which would be used in supplying these rations?
Any workers who are entitled to the supplementary rations, such as people doing heavy manual labour or harvest workers during the harvest, will be supplied with increased rations on foot of the supplementary allowances granted.
Is it not a fact that many traders are refusing to supply these extra rations, no arrangements having been made to replace the flour necessary to supply them?
If the Deputy will supply me with the details of particular cases of any workers who are entitled to supplementary rations, I shall see that such workers will get the supplementary rations.
Is it not a fact that no arrangements have been made to replace the flour used in supplying these supplementary rations?
I am not aware that that is so.
That is what you told me a week ago.
This refers to supplementary rations. There is a difference between supplementary rations for certain workers and temporary visitors' rations.
The question last week referred to supplementary rations.
There is a distinction between temporary visitors' rations and supplementary rations.
Is it not the case that supplementary rations are not being supplied, because no arrangements have been made to replace the flour which would be used in these rations?
I shall have the matter examined further.
No bread or flour on foot of these supplementary rations is being supplied because the millers will not give the flour to replace these rations.
I am not aware that any complaints have been made.
You are asleep.