asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the restriction on marketing of wheat by farmers, whereby it is mandatory on them to sell the wheat to those from whom they get the sacks on hire; if he considers that that system is fair; and whether in fact it constitutes a restrictive practice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marketing of Wheat.
12.
Farmers normally market their wheat through the firm from which sacks are hired but I am not aware that it is mandatory on them to do so. There is no statutory provision to that effect and no complaint regarding the alleged restriction has reached my Department.
Is the Minister aware of the fact that anyone who has got sacks this year in my county has found that he has been unable to market his wheat to any firm other than the firm issuing the sacks?
I can only repeat that there is no statutory provision to that effect and we have received no complaints to that effect.
I am telling the Minister that is the state of affairs, and will he not now cause inquiries to be made to find out whether my information is correct or not?
I am entitled to tell the Deputy what the position is as far as I am concerned up to this moment. Apart from the question of whether or not the tendency is to sell the wheat to the firm from whom the sacks are procured, since there is a fixed price, fixed standards and a scale of fixed charges for the collection of wheat, I cannot see how there could be very much in the Deputy's suggestion.
Would the Minister not agree that if a person offers his wheat to a certain merchant who says it is unmillable, if my allegation is true, the grower then has no further opportunity of offering for sale to another miller who might well say it is millable?
I shall certainly have inquiries made but I would repeat that we have received no complaints under this heading whatsoever.