asked the Minister for Agriculture what is the position regarding the sum voted in 1957 for the marketing of agricultural produce; how much of this vote has been expended; and what are the results of this expenditure.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marketing of Agricultural Produce.
29.
The sum of £250,000 voted in 1957 was placed in a special account entitled "Marketing of Agricultural Produce (Grant in Aid)". Expenditure each year is accounted for to the Comptroller and Auditor General, copy of the Account being attached to the Appropriation Account for my Department. The total expenditure from the fund to date is £18,442. This includes contributions of £5,000 made in 1959 and £5,000 made in 1960 towards the cost of publicity campaigns conducted jointly with the British Turkey Federation designed to expand the market for turkeys in Britain. The bulk of the remainder of the expenditure represents the costs associated with the Advisory Committee on Agricultural Marketing whose reports have already been published.
Will the Minister say what steps he took to improve, or to seek an extension of, the cattle market in England?
I do not see any relation between that Supplementary and the Question to which I have replied.
I am asking the Minister what did he do with the £250,000 that was voted in 1957?
That is a separate question.
Regarding the sum voted in 1957 for the marketing of agricultural produce will the Minister say how much he spent on having, say, a stand at the International Food Fair in London recently in order to promote the sale of Irish produce?
How this sum is to be spent was a matter for the Advisory Committee which has presented a number of reports to the Government. On these reports the Government has announced its decision. The balance of the Vote is still there and will, I am sure, be used for the organisations that will shortly be established and I hope it will be wisely used for the purposes for which the money was originally provided.
Arising out of the Minister's reply——
Question No. 30.
The farmers of Ireland have taken a beating——
(Interruptions.)
Order.
I am raising this on the Adjournment. The farmers have taken the greatest beating they have ever taken and the Minister for Agriculture did nothing about it although he had three years to do it and there is the proof of it.
Question No. 30.
Deputy Lynch should not lose his temper. He should be careful of his blood pressure.
(Interruptions.)
Where would the Irish farmers be if they had not kept their tempers?