asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that prices paid for pigs have declined considerably, that the price now obtaining is at least 12/- per cwt. live weight below the economic cost of production; if so, if he will take immediate steps to arrest the decline and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Private Notice Question. - Pig Prices.
As regards the first part of the question, I am aware that increased prices were paid by bacon curers for pigs in the early part of November but that the prices have again receded from the level then attained, which was above the level of the preceding months. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. As regards the third part of the question, I would point out that certain reductions made recently in the prices for pigmeat exported to Britain necessarily followed, under the Pigs and Bacon Agreement with the Ministry of Food, reductions made in the prices for British home-produced pigs.
Is is not so that the reduction made in the price of these pork exports was consequential on a reduction in the price of feeding stuffs in Great Britain which has not been reflected in the price of feeding stuffs here and which will not be reflected until 1st January next and then only partially?
Mr. Walsh
Yes. The reduction in Britain was consequential on the reduction in the price of feeding stuffs, but the price paid for pigs in themonth of December here was as high as it was in the month of October.
The trouble is that the price of feeding stuffs has come down in England but it has not come down here. We are keeping the price artificially up until the 1st January.
Is the Minister aware that the price of pigs at fairs has dropped considerably? Would he consider removing the ban on the export of pigs across the Border to the Six Counties?
Mr. Walsh
The only answer I can give is to quote the prices paid in the factories for fat pigs—not bonhams or slips. The prices paid were:—
|
Oct. |
Dec. |
|
|
Claremorris |
250/- |
245/- |
|
Sligo |
246/- |
248/- |
|
Dublin |
252/- |
250/- |
|
Waterford |
250/- |
245/- |
|
Cork |
248/- |
248/- |
|
Limerick |
250/- |
245/- |
I cannot find the difference of 12/- a cwt. the Deputy has stated. The greatest difference in the factories is 5/-.
Has the Minister figures for Tralee?
Mr. Walsh
Yes. The prices paid at Tralee were 255/- in October and 248/-in December.
But the price of feeding stuffs is constant.
Mr. Walsh
It is coming down on the 1st January.
It has been kept up for the last six weeks.
Mr. Walsh
If the producers were selling on the basis of Deputy Dillon's agreement, they would be getting only 220/-.
Is the Tralee price not beating all the other prices?