asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has received a request recently from the Roscommon County Committee of Agriculture urging him to carry out an investigation with a view to protecting producers in the pigs and bacon industry from alleged racketeering on the part of the curers; and, if so, what action he has taken or proposes to take.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pigs and Bacon Industry: Protection of Producers.
33.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative.
As regards the second part of the Question I do not propose to carry out an investigation because I am not aware of any grounds for the allegations referred to in the Question.
As regards protecting producers in the pigs and bacon industry, producers are protected by the operation of the arrangement under which they are guaranteed minimum prices for Grade A and Grade B1 pigs.