asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that An Bord Gráin have issued instructions that all wheat supplied by them must be filled in large sacks which hold anything from 230 to 280 lbs. and over; and if this order had his approval.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supply of Wheat in Sacks.
5.
I understand that An Bord Gráin have requested purchasers to provide sacks in sound condition and capable of holding two cwt., that is, 224 lbs. of wheat. This request was made in the interests of purchasers, in order to prevent losses through spillage and to facilitate them in the checking of the quantity delivered. This is a matter concerning the day-to-day operations of the Board in which the question of my approval or otherwise does not arise.
Is the Minister not aware that in Great Britain the use of sacks to hold that quantity is prohibited? Does he not think it a good thing that workers should not be asked to lift over two cwt?
I am not aware of the prevailing practice in Britain. I am merely telling the Deputy, in reply to the question directed to me, why the Board issued this instruction.
Would the Minister consider making inquiries as to whether what I say is correct and if it is, would he not consider advising the Board on the matter?
It is a different matter.
Would the Minister not agree from his own experience that attempting to carry 16 stone of wheat is something no working man should be asked to do?
The two reasons given by the Board for the instruction they issued are very sound. One of them is particularly so where the machine used to fill the sacks is designed for a particular type of sack. If the sacks that are presented are of a different capacity, there is the possibility that there would be damage and loss sustained by those concerned.
Is the Minister aware that this can only lead to trade unions instructing members not to handle sacks and that this will cause confusion and bedevilment of the whole situation? The Minister can appreciate that trade unions are reluctant to do that but they may have to do it if he, as the responsible officer, will not advise the Board to make an alteration. Would he consider doing that?
I am sure all these considerations, to which the Deputy refers, have been present in the minds of those who have issued the instruction. I have no responsibility for it whatever.
They will be present in the minds of the people carrying the sacks also.
If the Minister examines the records, I think he will find correspondence between his Department and the Department of Industry and Commerce directed towards putting an end to the user not of 16 stone sacks but of 20 stone sacks which I am quite sure the Minister will agree are, in fact, practically incapable of being handled by men at present? Would he consider further consultation with the Minister for Industry and Commerce, or in the absence of that, suggest to An Bord Gráin that where bags of this dimension are to be used. mechanical handling equipment should be installed in the stores?
Mechanical loaders will not take 16 stone.
But forklifts will take it.
I agree that a 20 stone sack is a formidable proposition but it is the first time that a question of this nature came before me and I am replying merely on the question of the issue of the instruction by the Board, an instruction of which I had no knowledge and for which I have no responsibility.
I think the Minister will find that there has been correspondence between his Department and the Department of Industry and Commerce with a view to confining weights to one cwt. sacks.
Not in my time.
Would the Minister try to find some solution? I do not expect an answer now, as I am merely drawing his attention to the matter, but would he not consider it?
The Deputy has referred to certain organisations that apparently take an active interest in this matter and one might expect that they would find another way of raising a matter like this other than through a Parliamentary question when, in fact, the person to whom the question is directed has no knowledge at all of the broader field that was covered in the course of the Supplementary questions.
The organisations I referred to were not consulted. They should have been.
Sometimes these organisations do not need to be consulted to make their minds known.
They do not have to be consulted to give the answer.