asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether representations were made indicating that a ready demand for surplus malting barley existed outside Ireland at a price not less than 75/- per barrel and, if so, if he will state his reasons for refusing the export of surplus malting barley for the benefit of growers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Surplus Malting Barley.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if it is true that 70/- per barrel was offered from the Continent for malting barley; that the Irish Government refused to licence exports of surplus malting barley; if he can state whether this continental demand was subsequently filled, under licence from the British Ministry of Food, with 1,200,000 barrels of malting barley from Great Britain; and, if so, why he refused to license export of the Irish malting barley surplus.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has been approached in recent weeks, or at any time, for a licence to export barley from this country; and, if so, why it was not granted since there is a surplus of barley in certain counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Mr. Walsh
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 143, 144 and 145 together.
Subsequent to an announcement that a large quantity of barley had been exported from Great Britain to the Continent, verbal representations were made to my Department that a continental export market existed for malting barley. No satisfactory evidence was furnished, however, as to the price obtainable abroad or the price likely to be payable to growers in this country in respect of any barley which might be exported. Even if a price of 75/- per barrel were obtainable abroad, growers could not expect to receive more than 55/- per barrel when account is taken of cost of collection, drying, delivery to place of export, transport to the Continent and other incidentals, including a profit margin for the exporter.
It must be borne in mind that it will be necessary this year to provide a substantial quantity of imported grain to supplement home production of animal feeding stuffs and that the price which must be charged to feeders for this grain is higher than any price likely to be obtained by growers for barley for export. As long as this position lasts, I can see no reason for permitting the export of barley.
Is the Minister aware that a farmer in North County Dublin was offered 70/- a barrel, ex-barn, on condition that the purchaser would be permitted to export it as malting barley and that he applied on four successive days to the Department of Agriculture for a licence to export on that basis and was refused? Surely the Minister will agree that if a malting price were obtainable for our barley abroad it would be wise and prudent to sell barley of malting quality in the malt market and, if necessary, use the proceeds to buy feeding barley or any other feeding grain that was necessary at a much lower price in whatever was the most advantageous market, but that it is altogether wrong artificially to depress the price of malting barley so as to force it into the feeding barley market?
Mr. Walsh
I do not know the views of the gentleman who told Deputy Dillon that, but we have asked this gentleman on a few occasions to tell us what price he was going to get for the barley and he refused. If he is able to come in and tell us that he is going to give 70/- ex-barn then we will consider the matter.
Is that not a bit late in the day? All that I am saying is that, if it is true, that a man was offered 70/- per barrel by a factor for malting barley, what did it matter to the Department of Agriculture what subsequently became of the barley provided the farmer got paid for it? If the factor was such a fool as to pay the farmer too much, why should not the Department have said: "Certainly, if the farmer is going to get 70/- from anybody we will give him every facility."
Mr. Walsh
The unfortunate thing at the present time is that there are too many people trying to get hold of the farmers, and Deputy Dillon is now entering into the arena.
The Minister is the only one that has succeeded.
That seems to be a rather peppery reply.