Vol. 197 No. 1
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that large quantities of home-grown wheat in fit condition for milling have been rejected by the millers who are applying very high grading standards; and if he will take steps to ensure that all wheat equalling the older minimum grading standards will be accepted and paid for at the appropriate milling price.
67.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is satisfied that the farmers have received fair treatment in the assessing of the millability of their wheat by the millers.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together.
I am aware that as the result of a delayed harvest and unfavourable weather a substantial proportion of the 1962 wheat crop has been found to be unsuitable for milling. I do not accept, having regard to the general condition of the crop, that an unreasonably large proportion has been declared unmillable. It has been open to growers, under arrangements made between the Irish Flour Millers' Association and the National Farmers' Association, to appeal to the Central Wheat Laboratory in cases of disputed millability.
Could the Minister indicate if his Department have supervised the examination of the millability of wheat or if he has left the matter entirely to the millers?
The Deputy is well aware of the arrangement made between the Flour Millers' Association and the National Farmers' Association. There are two chemists employed, one by the Millers' Association and the other by the NFA. There is a council of four, two representing the millers and two the farmers; there is a liaison committee of six on which are represented An Foras Talúntais and my Department. I do not know if one could think out any more representative bodies than these.
The cases the Minister has referred to operate only on matters of appeals by growers.
Yes, but every grower whose wheat is rejected is entitled to appeal.
The Minister will appreciate the fact that the small farmer with only a few barrels of wheat has to pay 50/- to have his wheat tested. Does he not consider, in view of the unsatisfactory season, that his own Department might have the facilities to adjudicate——
We are, in fact, represented on the liaison committee.
Only in cases of appeal. Does the Department not do spot inspections to ensure that fair play is meted out to the farmers concerned?
If we were not represented on the liaison committee where would the Deputy suggest our functions would be?
I suggest the Minister's Department could very easily intervene in the ordinary examination of wheat, not necessarily in cases of appeal.
My Department do not buy wheat; they do not convert wheat into flour or convert flour into bread.
