asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will now announce the guaranteed grain prices for the coming season.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grain Prices.
18.
The question of the prices to be guaranteed for wheat and barley of the 1968 crop is under consideration and a decision will be announced as soon as possible.
Could the Minister say what he means by "as soon as possible"? This goes on every year, as the Minister knows, and last year he promised it would not occur again as long as he was Minister for Agriculture, that he would give the people time to plough and make decisions.
It will not happen this year unless there are people who want to protract negotiations and the expression of their views to the point where a decision will be delayed. It will not be my fault if that should happen.
Can we anticipate an increase in grain prices due to the effect of devaluation?
The Deputy would be very foolish to do so.
So the Minister has no intention of increasing prices?
It is not a question of intention. It would be foolish to anticipate what the Minister will do in the near future.