asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will consider revoking the regulation which prevents the farmers in the Labbadish starch factory area from growing potatoes for that factory.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Labbadish Starch Factory.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will indicate why regulations were made to prevent the farmers in the New-towncunningham, Manorcunningham, Raphoe, Convoy, Lifford and Letterkenny areas from growing Dutch potatoes for the Labbadish starch factory.
As Questions Nos. 54 and 55 relate to the same subject, I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take them together.
I am not prepared to encourage the growing of imported industrial potatoes in the main Donegal seed potato district until it is established that the health of the imported varieties is such that the high health standard of our home seed potato industry will not be adversely affected. It is intended that in the first year the industrial varieties should be grown outside the intensive seed potato districts, and, if the resultant crops are up to the required standard, no objection will be raised to the seed from these crops being grown in the following season in the districts mentioned by the Deputy.
Would the Minister say if the seed imported this year for manufacturing starch has been guaranteed as being disease-free, if it has been inspected before shipment by Department inspectors and if they have indicated that it is healthy seed?
Not in the least wishing to give the Deputy a short answer, I think he will appreciate that, where we have a very valuable export trade in seed potatoes founded on our preparedness to certify that no diseased varieties are growing in their vicinity we must, no matter what certificates we get with seed coming in from Holland, await the growth of the crops from them so that we ourselves can inspect the crops in order to be certain that no concealed virus disease has been carried in the seed. Once that is done and we can grow seed of these industrial varieties under our own supervision, there will be no necessity for restriction.
Mr. Lemass
Is our trade in seed potatoes one-tenth of the Dutch trade in seed potatoes?
Deputy Lemass knows as much about potatoes as my foot and I would ask him to keep out of this problem because his interventions in it are mischievous and ignorant.
Will the Inishowen farmers who are allowed to grow the Dutch seed potatoes be prohibited from carrying on their usual trade in the export of seed and ware?
No. I take it the Deputy is asking questions in good faith and not trying to make mischief. What we are trying to do is to preserve the man with a good trade in seed potatoes from any fortuitous injury by a mistake. After this one year is past the whole problem is over because the seed hereafter will be grown under our own supervision and there will be no danger of contamination at all. Surely the Deputy will agree with me it would be reckless, for want of taking precautions in one year, to create the danger of some conflict between the interests of the farmers growing industrial potatoes and the farmers growing seed for export.
Question No. 56.
I ask your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to put in a second supplementary question.
The Deputy has put in two already.
With all respect, I have not put in a second one already.
The Deputy did put in a second supplementary and the Minister made a reply to it. It is the function of the Chair to say whether sufficient answers have been given and sufficient queries have been made. The Chair is satisfied that sufficient questions relevant to the issue have been asked in this case.
Even when, as I think, the Minister did not get the gist of my question?
The Chair must exercise its right in these matters sometimes.
The Minister's reply did not cover what I wanted.
If the Deputy comes in to my room later, I shall give him all the information he wants on this matter.
In view of the situation I ask your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I shall communicate with the Deputy during the course of the evening.
That is always the best way to settle such a question.