asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether, in an effort to control the escalating costs of bread and flour, he will consider taking the flour-milling industry into public ownership.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Flour-Milling Industry.
10.
The price of flour and bread is controlled. I do not accept that nationalisation of the flour-milling industry would lead to reduction in costs, and I do not propose to take any action on the line suggested by the Deputy.
Is it not a fact that the flour-milling industry and the wholesale and retail outlets for bread sales are coming more and more under the control of British milling interests and that the price and the quality of bread and flour are being progressively influenced by the interests of British millers; and that, above all other industries, this one should be taken into public ownership in the interest of the Irish people rather than in the interest of creating excessive profits for British financiers such as J. Arthur Rank and his friends?
What the Deputy should not lose sight of is that the control of flour and bread——
Has a price increase ever been refused?
The full demands have scarcely ever been met, so whether one would call that a refusal or not I really cannot say.