asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will arrange for an investigation into the purchasing arrangements and price fixing by which the price of fish is raised and lowered at will by organisations engaged in the trade.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Fish.
67.
I cannot accept the Deputy's suggestion that the price of fish is raised and lowered at will by organisations engaged in the trade. Fish in general is sold by auction and the price realised is governed by supply and demand and also by size and quality. I will, however, have investigations made in any particular case of which the Deputy gives me details.
68.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will arrange for the setting up immediately of cold storage facilities at Dingle, County Kerry, under his Department's control to enable a level price to be paid to the fishermen there and so save them from the price manipulation which prevails under existing conditions.
The provison of cold storage facilities is not a function of my Department. I understand, however, that the Dingle Fishermen's Cooperative Society is considering the erection of a fish processing factory, including cold storage, at the port and the matter is at present under examination.