asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is in a position to give the Dáil any information in relation to the negotiations which have been taking place with the British Government concerning the sale of eggs and price of eggs to Britain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Egg and Poultry Prices.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will indicate the nature, purpose and result of the negotiations which took place between his Department and the British Ministry of Food concerning egg and poultry prices.
asked the Minister for Agriculture what agreement he has made with the British Minister of Food on prices for eggs for 1952-53 and thereafter as a result of discussions which took place last week in London.
With your permission, a Chinn Chomhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 76 and 77 together.
A meeting between officials of my Department and the British Ministry of Food was held on the 9th July to discuss the egg agreement which is due to expire on the 31st January, 1952, and the price to be paid by the British Ministry of Food for our eggs in 1952-53 and thereafter. These discussions will be resumed at an early date.
The price and distribution of poultry in Great Britain are no longer controlled and, therefore, questions concerning poultry do not form the subject of negotiations with the British Ministry of Food.
In these circumstances, would it not seem ungenerous on the part of the Minister to rebuke me with having failed to make a price agreement relating to eggs and with having failed to fix a price with the British Ministry of Food in respect of fowl exports for future years?
Mr. Walsh
I think that what I referred to was the fact that the Deputy, when a Minister, stated that he had already fixed a price for 1952-53.
The Minister's memory is a little defective.
On the question of the fixing of a price for eggs, would the Minister take up with the British Ministry of Food the important question of containers made from our own native timber?
That is a separate question.
No price, no eggs. A fair price and plenty of eggs.