asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what plans the Government have at the present time to ensure that farmers get fair prices, and to end the depression that exists in the cattle industry.
14.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prices of Agricultural Produce.
13.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware of the depressed state of the agricultural community at the present time; and, if so, what action he intends to take to see that they get fair and just prices for their produce.
I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.
I do not accept the Deputy's contention about the state of agriculture or that the Government have not been doing everything possible to ensure that farmers get fair and reasonable prices. There are effective price support arrangements for a considerable range of important agricultural products, including cattle.
The decline in cattle prices in the second half of 1966 was primarily due to a number of external factors over which the Government had no control, but the Government took every means open to them to alleviate the position, which, of course, has since improved considerably.
Prices of other commodities, particularly pigs, milk, wheat and sugar beet, increased in 1966, and the Agricultural Price Index for the year 1966 is expected to be only very slightly below that of 1965, and will be higher than in 1964, in which year it rose by 10 per cent. There is no doubt but that there has been an improvement in the standard of living of farmers in recent years, thanks largely to the comprehensive measures which the Government have taken to increase their efficiency and to protect their markets and prices. The Government will, of course, continue to take all practicable measures to improve farm income.
Surely the Minister realises that the farmers have been relegated to the position of second class citizens under the present Government, that they are losing their initiative? Is the Minister aware that small farmers sold their cattle at £15 to £20——
Does that arise here?
Yes, in regard to the depressed state of the agricultural industry at present and what do the Government intend to do about it. Surely the Minister also realises that 28,000——
Does the Deputy realise that he is making a speech?
Does the Minister not admit that due to the depressed state of agriculture, 28,000 people have left the land in the past two years?
I disagree with most of what the Deputy has said, and I usually do. Farmers, far from being relegated to the position of second class citizens, have had their situation improved steadily over the years and by a strange coincidence, this improvement began about the time Fianna Fáil first came to government and has continued with only two breaks since then. I have no doubt that the farmers' position will continue to improve until they have reached their rightful place in the community.
Under the inter-Party Government, they were getting 29 per cent of the national income, whereas last year they got only 18 per cent.
When the inter-Party Government and the Coalition were in office, was there any national income on which you could count? You are talking about 29 per cent of nothing.
It was more than it was last year. The dead hand of Fianna Fáil has fallen on everything for the past seven years.
(Interruptions.)