asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will consider granting a sugar beet contract to every farmer west of the Shannon who seeks it.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Sugar Beet Contracts.
30.
The making of sugar beet growing contracts is a matter for Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teo. and not for me. The company have informed me that they have contracted for the maximum acreage of sugar beet which it is economic to produce in the country; that contracts for 1969 have been confined to established growers, both west and east of the Shannon for the same acreage as last year; and that the company are not in a position to offer contracts to new growers, or for additional acreage.
I am sure the Minister is aware of the success of the sugar beet west of the Shannon, particularly last year. There are many farmers who had not contracted last year who have made application for contracts this year. As far as I know they have not been refused yet but from information I have received I believe they will be refused. Would it be possible for the Minister, due to the fact that the Irish Sugar Company is a semi-State body, to make some case so that those farmers, who are mostly uneconomic farmers and who have made application for contracts, could be given contracts?
I certainly have great sympathy with the point of view expressed by Deputy Donnellan and I will convey those sentiments to the Sugar Company and to my colleague the Minister for Finance in this respect.
This is the three card trick.
The Deputy would know more about that.
(Cavan): The Minister said he could not find any dispute between himself and the farmers.
It is not a dispute we are talking about here.