asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the Government proposes to continue the policy of importing butter from New Zealand, malting barley from Poland, and oats from Australia.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Butter, Barley and Oats Importation.
Mr. Walsh
The import of such products is not a matter of policy. The policy of the Government is, as I have repeatedly stated, to increase home production of grain, milk and other products as far as possible, and thereby to dispense with imports. I am glad to say that the present outlook is such as to give reasonable grounds for hoping that the need for imports of malting barley, oats and butter may not arise this year.
Is the Minister aware that a number of Irish farmers were refused contracts for the growing of malting barley, and that there was some malting barley in the country which would not be bought by the brewers? Is the Minister also aware that malting barley was bought at a very low figure last year before the high figure barley was imported from Poland?
Mr. Walsh
The only thing I do know is that Messrs. Guinness were unable to get their full requirements of barley last harvest and in January made application for imported barley.
Is the Minister aware that they refused barley?
Mr. Walsh
I am not so aware.
Everyone else is aware of it.
Mr. Walsh
I am not aware of it.
Everybody else is aware of it.
The Minister obliged by reducing the price of barley this year.
Mr. Walsh
I did nothing of the sort. I had nothing whatsoever to do with reducing the price of barley. I only did so in the imagination of Deputies Rooney, Sweetman and a few others.
Did I understand the Minister to say that the prospects were such that there was a reasonable certainty that it would not be necessary to import butter this year?
Mr. Walsh
There is a reasonable hope.
Do I take it that that statement does not apply to the five months gone by but to the remainder of the year? Does it apply to the coming year?
Mr. Walsh
It does.
Will that statement modify in any way the statement made that £300,000 is needed in the Budget to make up for the loss on butter that will be imported this year?
Mr. Walsh
It is for butter that was imported in the past as the result of the policy of the Coalition Government.
That is not the case that was put here.
The Minister for Social Welfare said that it was going to be imported. Does the Minister for Agriculture now state that the Minister for Social Welfare was telling an untruth?
We will hear a further explanation.
Wait until we get the results of the by-elections in Limerick and Waterford, and then you will be sorry.