asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the severe losses which producers are suffering as a result of the low prices which are now being paid for turkeys; and if, in view of the detrimental effect such low prices will have on the future of the industry, he will consider fixing an economic price for the birds.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Turkey Prices: Subsidy Proposal.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if, with a view to encouraging the continuation of turkey production, and in view of the great addition to the economy of the small farmer which such production represents, he will consider granting a subsidy to turkey producers who are suffering a big financial loss because of the low market price at present prevailing.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.
As I informed the House earlier this month, the prices paid to our producers for turkeys are determined mainly by the prices obtainable for our turkeys on the British market, which takes the bulk of our production. These prices are decided by demand and supply.
As a result of very greatly increased supplies of turkeys in Great Britain the prices realised by our turkeys this year have so far been lower than those for the corresponding period last year; however, only a very small proportion of our turkey exports have yet been consigned. As the market is an entirely free one, it would not be practicable to fix a price or pay a subsidy for turkeys.
A market bulletin is issued by my Department to the Press and radio twice a week, which gives the prices and general market position in the principal centres in Great Britain and also the live-weight prices paid to producers at local markets here. This is intended to guide our producers in marketing their turkeys.
The most recent quotations on the home market show that up to 2/- per lb. live weight has been paid for good quality cocks and 2/4 per lb. live weight for good quality hens.
Has it not been that at some time in the past, when another Deputy occupied the seat where the Minister now sits, Deputy Dillon, as he then was, advocated some such subsidies being paid?
The Deputy's recollection deceives him. I was constrained at one time to comment unfavourably on the folly of one of my predecessors in winding up Eggsports Limited at a time when that body might have been of great service to poultry producers but my remarks at that time have little relevance to the situation to-day.
Would the Minister be able to explain how it is that the producer gets 1/3 to 1/6 per lb. as we have seen at the market recently and, when the purchaser goes along to the grocer or retailer two days later, he will pay 3/- per lb. for the very same turkey? Would the Minister try to have some little bit of justice brought to bear on the situation, so that the primary producer and not the man in between will reap whatever benefit there is?
I entirely agree with the Deputy that the primary producer is entitled to first consideration. But one must bear in mind that, if one buys a turkey on the market, one buys feathers, guts and all the rest. If one buys a turkey in the poulterer's shop, one may buy guts, but not feathers and all the rest. There is bound to be some difference then between the price payable in the retail shop and the price realised on the open market for the live bird. I have tried, and I shall continue to try, to keep producers accurately posted as to market conditions on our own markets here and in Great Britain; but we must face the fact, from which there is no escape, that this year there are, according to the census returns, 264,000 more turkeys in Ireland than there were last year; that there are 785,000 more turkeys in Great Britain than there were last year; that there are 61,000 more turkeys in Northern Ireland this year than there were last year. The Deputy may rest assured that any help the Department can give producers to secure for them the maximum value for the birds they have on offer will be given.
It is very difficult to understand the attitude of the Government in calling for increased production here——
Deputies
Speech!
——particularly when one remembers the extent to which they are willing to subsidise——
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Speech!
Is the Deputy asking a supplementary question?
I say it is difficult to understand the attitude of the Government.
That is, of course, a positive statement.
It is difficult to understand the Government's attitude. They are prepared to spend money on new industries but they are not prepared to come to the assistance of old established industries in which our people are highly experienced.
The Deputy is not asking a supplementary question.
The Minister indicated that turkeys should fetch from 2/- to 2/4 per lb. at present market prices. In view of that statement, is he satisfied that producers who have been selling good quality birds for the past nine or ten days at from 1/2 to 1/10 per lb. are being treated fairly?
Question Time is not a time to ask for opinions but to elicit information.
The Minister indicated in his reply——
A question deals with a matter of fact and not with a matter of opinion.
I have pointed out that prices up to 2/- per lb. for good quality cocks and up to 2/4 per lb. for good quality hens have been paid. As the Deputy may know, there are various qualities of birds tendered at every fair and market. All I can do is to try to keep producers fully informed so that there will be no possibility of their being unfairly exploited. There is only one sure guarantee of securing for the producer the full value of his bird, and that is to follow the example of the farmers of Monaghan, Cavan and the surrounding counties who establish their own co-operative to handle their own fowl, with a guarantee that the entire return therefrom will find its way back to the producers.
Major de Valera
Does the Minister mean to convey that his only function in this matter, as Minister for Agriculture, is to convey information?
Not at all. The Deputy is apparently unaware that the Minister succeeded in establishing a co-operative society in the northern part of our territory to ensure that producers would get the full value of their fowl. If the Deputy and his colleagues would try to do as much in their constituencies, they would be a damned sight better off.
Major de Valera
I think the Minister misunderstood me. I was asking a question arising out of an earlier reply given by the Minister. The impression I got from his earlier reply was that his only function in this matter is the giving of information. That has nothing to do with co-operation at all.
Increased production has brought about the present drop in prices. Will the Minister now advise farmers to cease production in certain commodities instead of asking them to increase production?
No, I will not.
Best quality cocks selling in West Cork over the past five or six days fetched 1/4 per lb. and best quality hens no more than 1/8 per lb. Is the Minister satisfied, in present conditions, that these prices are equitable? I am speaking now of best quality birds.
Question Time is not a time for asking an opinion.
Is the Minister not the man who is in possession of these facts?