asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, in view of the manner in which the market was artificially depressed, he will arrange to have the difference between the 36/- to 40/- per barrel paid for Irish feeding barley and the 55/- to 60/- at present being paid for foreign feeding barley, refunded to farmers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Barley: Price Refund.
The market for homegrown barley of the 1954 crop was not artificially depressed. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
Does the Minister consider that the statements made by him to deputations of farmers, that a price of 45/- a barrel would be an impost of £1 per pig on the small farmer with ten acres of land and a wife and six children, did not depress the price?
That is a separate question.
Does he consider that that statement and the views given by him to buyers of barley had anything to do with it?