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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Feb 1969

Vol. 238 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat and Barley Market.

22.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will call on the Central Council of Committees of Agriculture, the Irish Flour Millers Association, the Irish Compound Millers, the Irish Grain and Agricultural Merchants Association, the National Farmers Association and An Bord Gráin to confer on the practicability of providing a merged market for wheat and feeding barley.

The market for feeding barely and for wheat not required for seed or flour milling is already merged through the operations of An Bord Gráin. It does not seem to me, therefore, that any useful purpose would be served by discussions on the lines indicated.

Surely if it was a guaranteed thing, and accepted, that the farmer was going to get a similar cheque at the end of the harvest there would be no problem in working out a merged grain market between barely and wheat and the requirements of both at the end of the harvest? It would be something profitable to discuss?

As I have said in my reply, in so far as mergers are concerned—if one can use "merged" in this sense—the market is already merged through the operations of An Bord Gráin. Unless the Deputy has something more in mind, I do not see that any useful purpose would be served by discussions.

Surely the Minister will agree that the price of wheat as such is one matter and the price of barley is another? These bodies, the farmers' organisations and the Minister, could possibly come together and discuss a merged market. It should be possible to get the farmers similar or better cheques for the desired quantities of the desired grain.

If the Deputy could back that up, it would be a most laudable aim.

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