asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will state the minimum growers' price for sugar beet in the EEC in 1969-70, 1970-71 and 1971-72; and the price proposed by the EEC Commission for 1972-73.
25.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sugar Beet Prices.
24.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will estimate what price Irish farmers would receive at present for sugar beet if Ireland were a member of the EEC, taking due account of transport costs, differences in factory efficiency between Ireland and the member countries of the EEC, et cetera; and how this price compares with the price currently being received by Irish farmers.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 25 together.
The minimum growers' price fixed for sugar beet in the EEC for the years 1969-70, 1970-71 and 1971-72 was £7.20 per ton for beet of 16 per cent sugar content delivered at a collection centre, wet pulp being returned free of charge to the grower. The price proposed for 1972-73 is £7.29 per ton.
There would be no significant change in the price received by Irish growers for sugar beet if Ireland were now a member of the EEC as the current price here is at approximately the EEC level.
Could the Minister explain how it is that he is able to tell us what the price for sugar beet will be but could not tell us yesterday what the Irish price for other products would be?
I answered yesterday's questions as adequately as I could.
He just did not know.
None of them, as far as I can recollect, dealt specifically with sugar beet.
No. That is my point. You said you could not say what the Irish price would be for other products but you could tell us what the price for sugar beet would be.