asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the price of feeding barley for 1951 may militate against the growing of wheat; and, if so, whether he will state what is or what will be his policy to ensure that this will not happen.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Barley.
Mr. Walsh
A considerable proportion of the barley of short strawed varieties marketed in 1951 was purchased for seed purposes and this, no doubt, tended to increase the price obtained by growers. It is to be expected that feeders of live stock will, as far as possible, grow their own requirements of feeding barley in this and future years in replacement of maize. If considerable quantities in excess of seed requirements are marketed in 1952 the price will necessarily be governed by the prices obtainable for their live stock and live-stock products by those feeders who cannot grow their own requirements of feeding stuffs.
There is an unlimited market for all millable wheat at a price which is higher than has ever been obtainable by farmers in this country and I do not think that the price obtained for feeding barley in 1951 will militate against the growing of wheat this year.
Will the Minister state why he thinks people will grow wheat at 75/- a barrel if they can get 75/-for barley which they are supposed to be getting in the barley-growing areas of East Cork?
Mr. Walsh
There is an unlimited market for wheat, but there is a very limited market for malting barley.
I made no mention of malting barley but of feeding barley and you are not getting out of it that way.
Question No. 116.
I want an answer to my question.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that the decrease in the price of barley will deprive barley growers of a substantial profit during the coming years and if so, whether he will take steps accordingly to ensure that the price to be paid for malting barley will not be less favourable than that paid by Messrs. Guinness for imported malting barley.
Mr. Walsh
I am aware that the price which Messrs. Guinness propose to pay for malting barley of the 1952 crop is less than the price paid by them in 1951. The price of malting barley of the 1952 crop has been freely negotiated between Messrs. Guinness and the growers' representatives. The price is not subject to official control and I have no function in regard to it.
Will the Minister ascertain from Deputy Corry why, in that case, he accepted less this year than he did in previous years?
The price was accepted by the supporters of Deputy Sweetman and the supporters of Deputy O'Higgins.
Has the Minister got any information as to the price at which malting barley is likely to be available for import this year?
Mr. Walsh
That is a separate question.
I arranged with Messrs. Guinness——
(Interruptions.)
That idiot over there.
You sold the farmers the other day. You sold the farmers down the drain.
The expression used by Deputy Corry must be withdrawn.
I withdraw.
Is the Minister aware that it has been freely forecast in the newspapers and elsewhere in England, that the price for malting barley which Messrs. Guinness are going to have to pay in England will be between 80/- and 105/-, and why is the Irish farmer being deprived of that price?
Mr. Walsh
I have no concern with the price paid by Messrs. Guinness.
That is your job. That is what you are paid for.
Mr. Walsh
That is a matter directly between the growers and Messrs. Guinness and has been a matter between them for the past four years.
It is a matter in which the Government gave them a free hand.
Mr. Walsh
And they still have a free hand.
The Minister deliberately withheld the information from the county committees and so did the Taoiseach.
Mr. Walsh
The Deputy has been answered by Deputy Corry that the price was accepted by Deputy Sweetman's supporters.
Because they were misled.