asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will fix a floor price of 42/- a barrel for feeding barley to ensure that production next season will obviate the need for imports of animal feeding stuffs to meet home requirements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Feeding Barley.
4.
I hope to announce the barley price for 1964 shortly.
Would the Minister indicate if he is likely to announce the price suggested in the question ?
I can only say I am receiving quite a lot of advice and encouragement to do a lot of things. I shall try to announce what I think will be fair, having regard to all the circumstances.
Will the Minister not agree that if he raises the floor price of feeding barley, it will be unlikely he will have to import so much animal feeding stuffs?
The Deputy may be sure that the Minister will agree with whatever price he decides to announce.
I have no doubt that the Minister will agree with himself, but will he take into consideration that there are many Deputies in Dáil Éireann and many people in Ireland who would not agree with the Minister?
I know a lot of Deputies in Dáil Éireann and a lot of people in the State, and I know they are known to have many different opinions and all sorts of different suggestions to make. I shall consider them all, but, as I say, I will ultimately agree with the price that I think is fair.
Would the Minister answer the question I asked? He has not answered it yet.
I do not know what the Deputy expects me to tell him.
If he will give 42/- a barrel for feeding barley. That is the question.