asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the quantity of barley in stock at the present time; and whether this quantity is in excess of home requirements for the period between now and the harvest.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Barley Stocks.
8.
An Bord Gráin held approximately 96,000 tons of barley on 21st April. Present indications are that this will be somewhat in excess of requirements up to next harvest.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say by how much it is estimated it will be in excess of requirements between now and the harvest?
I am not in a position to say because estimates as such are not reliable as a means of forecasting in this case but the Deputy will appreciate that the mild winter has contributed to a great extent to this situation.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary say what plans the Department have for clearing this barley before the harvest? Is it intended that it should be subsidised and then brought down to the price of milo?
That is surely a separate question.
We must get some information at Question Time. We seem to get no information from the Minister or the Paliamentary Secretary.
It would be better if the Deputy would state all the questions he wishes to have answered when putting down his question.
We would want to put down all our supplementary questions also.
They can only answer what the civil servants put up to them.
(Interruptions.)