Vol. 197 No. 3
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether imports of pollard from Iron Curtain countries are being permitted at present; and, if so, if he will have these imports discontinued forthwith in view of the fact that there is available an abundant supply of unmillable native wheat which is ideal for feeding purposes.
20.
(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Agriculture why an order restricting import of Russian pollard under the Restriction of Imports Act, 1962 has not been made.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.
Unmillable wheat cannot be regarded as a substitute for pollard and as home production is insufficient to meet requirements imports of pollard are permitted, under licence, from various sources. Imports from "Iron Curtain" countries are at present licensed on a restricted scale only with a view to securing an improvement in our balance of trade with those countries. These restrictions are operated under the Agricultural Produce (Cereals) Acts and the question of making an Order under the Restriction of Imports Act, 1962, does not arise.
Would the Minister not agree that, when he issued the last licence at the beginning of October, it was then clear that, if we were going to have a great deal of unmillable wheat, it would have been undesirable to glut that market, particularly by the last licence issued?
The Minister understands, as the Deputy should, that, when we grow wheat, we grow it for the purpose of conversion into flour. When, on the other hand, we encourage farmers to grow feeding barley, we have to make arrangements for the marketing of that crop. For a number of years, we have arranged with the feeding-stuff manufacturers for the taking up of the barley crop, which amounted to 262,000 tons this year.
We must, therefore, as far as licences are concerned, have regard to the fact that the taking up of that barley crop and the import of offals are governed by the arrangement which we have made on these assumptions.
Surely the circumstances of the weather would vary that rate?
You cannot make an agreement well in advance of the harvest and then, when it turns out in a particular way, vary it.
Was the licence not given in October, when everybody knew what the harvest was like?
The licence was issued irrespective of what the harvest was like, because of the reason I have given.
It was issued only in October.
Further licences will be issued for the future periods, in consultation with those people with whom we have this agreement.
You have sold out to them, as well as to the millers.
