asked the Minister for Agriculture why Ireland was not represented at the recent Daily Mail Ideal Homes Exhibition in London, as were other food exporting countries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Representation at London Ideal Homes Exhibition.
30.
As I have indicated previously in the Dáil, it was decided to suspend participation in such fairs and exhibitions until the whole question of the value of this form of publicity had been further considered, and, as I said in reply to Deputy McQuillan yesterday, the Advisory Committee on the Marketing of Agricultural Produce have not yet presented a report on this question, but I understand one will be furnished later.
While appreciating the desirability of waiting for this report, does the Minister not think that in the interim we are losing an opportunity of advertising Irish agricultural products abroad; and will he not further agree that it is time we showed a little more initiative in this matter, when other nations are advertising their products?
The suspension of these activities resulted from the disappointment which arose as far as those who participated in them were concerned. It was felt, as a result of such disappointment and since a committee was in existence to study this whole matter, that it was better to leave it to them to investigate and report to us. I understand that the report will be reaching us before long.
Arising out of that, surely to goodness, if that is the case, should not the other progressive agricultural countries take the same view-point—countries like Denmark and Holland? Yet they have continued to advertise.
We could argue this matter very strenuously across this House. I understand that, as a result of the investigation which has taken place, there are very violent opinions, as to the advantages one way or another, held by people who have a great deal of knowledge of this subject.
I wish they had some knowledge of salesmanship.
We cannot all have the advantages of Deputy Lynch.