asked the Taoiseach if, in view of the suggestions made during the debate on the Estimate for Agriculture that there should be a yearly price review of farm products, and of the fact that he has adumbrated yearly general reviews of the incomes of other sections of the community, he will now give his views on a yearly price review to adjust farmers' incomes also.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Review of Farm Prices.
1.
For a number of years, there have been annual discussions with agricultural organisations on policy questions, including prices, and, of course, there have been discussions on other occasions as well. It is necessary to remember that these discussions could not take the same form as in such countries as Britain, because of the fundamental fact that we have to sell one-third of our production on export markets where prices cannot be influenced by our decisions. The Government subscribe to the principle of a reasonable relationship between agricultural and other incomes and they are giving proof of this in the unprecedentedly large sums now being made available for price support, agricultural education, the advisory services, improvement of land and buildings, relief of rates, fertiliser subsidies, disease eradication, etc. The country's financial resources are, however, not unlimited in the sense that we could afford to guarantee any particular level of prices without reference to the actual prices obtainable in the export market.
Could the Taoiseach say whether there has been any discussion recently between himself, the Minister for Agriculture and representative bodies of the farmers on the specific question of milk prices and whether he has any announcement to make in that regard, with special reference to the levy at present being made on the price of creamery milk?
No, I have no announcement to make. If the Deputy reads the newspapers, he will have noted that I have arranged with the Minister for Agriculture to meet the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers for a general discussion of the position in the course of the next few weeks.
I take it that this topic will be freely discussed on the occasion of such an exchange?
I am quite certain that the representatives of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers will not be restricted in their discussion.