asked the Minister for Agriculture if he regards three graduates as a sufficient number of agriculturalists to be engaged in the promotion of agricultural marketing in the Agricultural Institute.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Promotion of Agricultural Marketing.
12.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 17 of the Agriculture (An Foras Talúntais) Act, 1958, the employment of such staff as is necessary for the performance of its functions is a question for the Institute.
Is it not true never-the less that a word from the Minister would change things there? Is it not odd that, considering the large number of agricultural graduates employed, only three are devoting their activities to the most important fact of all, agricultural marketing?
I do not know what the Deputy has in mind when he mentions the promotion of agricultural marketing. After all, there is another organisation established for the purpose of interesting itself in marketing of all kinds. I had the belief all the time that the Agricultural Institute was set up for the purpose of engaging in research work.
Research into marketing.
Research work is designed primarily to benefit the producer. That is the main function. I am not contesting that in benefiting the producer by the research work in which they engage, they will also benefit those interested in the promotion of marketing, but it is no function of mine to interfere in the day-to-day activities of a body so representative and so knowledgeable of the needs of agriculture. The council of 12 have an independent chairman and a director. Surely I am not expected to comment on the numbers of technicians and scientists they employ and how they should distribute them?
The Minister is certainly expected to interest himself in them.