asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in respect of what commodities or category of exports feather-bedded conditions have passed or are passing as stated by him in his speech at a recent meeting of the Chartered Accountants' Association.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Exports.
Goods which were formerly subject to bulk purchasing bythe British Government and which have been decontrolled include canned meat, poultry and rabbits, and eggs. Goods which will be decontrolled during next year include live stock, meat other than bacon, milk products and fats. In addition, the removal of restrictions on the use of sugar in Britain is restoring competition to the trade in sugar manufactures.
Does the Minister think that it would be of assistance to his colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, in negotiating price agreements for our agriculturists to describe the existing price schedules negotiated by our Government as the feather-bedding of our agricultural industry?
I think it is important that it should be understood by everybody concerned, including the Deputy, that with decontrol there will be no question of negotiating prices.
Does the Minister think that it is a good thing, or indeed accurate, to describe the present price schedules for Irish agricultural exports as feather-bedded, and if they are feather-bedded in respect of what exportable commodity is the Irish farmer being given an excessive profit?
That is a separate question.
Surely not.
The Chair has ruled that it is a separate question.
I want to know what the Minister meant by feather-bedded.
Try a feather bed and you will know.
Question No. 5.
I will ask the question again and I may get something from the Minister's silent colleague.