asked the Minister for Agriculture the amount paid to the millers for wheat rejected by them as unmillable; and how such wheat was disposed of.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payments for Unmillable Wheat.
9.
I presume the Deputy is referring to wheat of the 1963 harvest.As announced on 10th September last, arrangements have been made for An Bord Gráin to purchase from millers and others dried feed wheat of the 1963 harvest at a price of £23 5s. per ton on 31st December next.
Unmillable wheat of the 1963 harvest may be disposed of by millers at their own discretion or held for sale to An Bord Gráin on 31st December next.
Am I to take it then that where wheat is rejected as unmillable, the millers are free to dispose of that wheat as they wish?
Yes.
Would the Minister not consider it possible that the millers, while rejecting that wheat, could possibly sell it to countries, which have been seeking wheat in recent months, at millable prices? If that is the case, has the Minister any control whatever over the situation from the point of view of protecting Irish farmers who grow wheat?
There is, of course, control over the export and I think the danger visualised, as it were, by the Deputy can be watched.
Would the Minister tell us if he realises that in recent weeks there has been a demand for wheat, and, therefore, would he not consider it possible that millers could reject wheat sent in by Irish farmers and subsequently sell that at a remunerative price to the detriment of the primary producer, the Irish farmer?
If the wheat is unmillable, I do not see what we can do about it.
If the millers reject wheat as unmillable, has the Minister any guarantee that that wheat will not subsequently be sold as millable wheat?
Not within this country, surely.
Is the Minister now admitting that the millers have the uncontrolled right to do what they like with the Irish farmers' wheat —that there is no control over this matter by the Department of Agriculture?
My reply does not mean they can do what they like.
What can they do? Would the Minister indicate what defence the Irish farmer has if his wheat is rejected? Is there anything to stop its being sold overseas as millable wheat, if the millers decide to do so?
They may not sell it as millable wheat.
Would the Minister please answer my question? Are the Department of Agriculture protecting the farmer to such an extent that they will see that wheat rejected as unmillable is not permitted to be sold subsequently overseas as millable wheat? Would he please answer that question?
I have tried to answer all the Deputy's questions but the Deputy apparently does not like the replies. Wheat cannot be sold as millable in this country if it has been rejected, and as far as I know, there is full control over its export.
What I want to know is what control there is?
There is that much control.
Question No. 10.
I have been given no indication from the Minister's reply——
Question No. 10.
The Chair will defend the Minister all right.