asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the reason for the delay in announcing prices for 1966 tillage crops; and when he intends to do so.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tillage Crop Prices.
43.
I hope to make an announcement in this matter almost immediately.
Can the Minister give us any information as to whether there will be an increase in price? Wheat acreage has fallen by over 200,000 acres in the past ten years. Oat growing has fallen by over 200,000 acres and there has been a 10 per cent drop in the amount of beet sown in the past year. Will the Minister give any information now that he will give the farmers a just and a fair price so that they can increase production in the years ahead?
The Deputy will have to await my announcement.
Will the announcement be made in this House or at a meeting of the Fianna Fáil Party?
At a dinner.
It will have the same effect. If it is, it will have a bad effect, as has been the case for the past ten years in regard to tillage.
What about some of the Germans who came over here and purchased land?
I have as good a farm as I ever had—and I was not kicked out of my Party, as Deputy Smith was.
A Deputy
Deputy L'Estrange never had a Party.
Is the Minister aware that his colleague, the Minister for External Affairs, is on record as expressing the view that a Minister for Agriculture who fails to announce the price of wheat before 1st November is betraying the tillage industry of this country? If not, perhaps the Minister for Agriculture would consult the Minister for External Affairs as to what has made him change his mind.
The Minister for External Affairs and I discuss these matters very frequently.
I thought the Minister for Agriculture might have been discussing Vietnam with the Minister for External Affairs.
I always value my discussions with the Minister for External Affairs.
On Vietnam or on wheat?