(Cavan) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that on the instructions of his Department bacon factories are withholding a sum of £6 per pig from farmers and pig dealers in respect of pigs supplied to them; if he will take steps to have these suppliers paid for their pigs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Withholding of Pig Payments.
16.
The position is that, as part of measures to counter serious smuggling of pigs from the Six Counties, my Department has required bacon curers to keep detailed daily records of the sources of all pigs delivered to them; and that, where checks by my Department show the details of origin supplied not to be reliable, appropriate deductions of subsidy are made in respect of curers' pigmeat exports. The bacon curers have accordingly made it a condition of purchase of all pigs that any export payments disallowed to them will be passed on by them for the account of the pig suppliers concerned.
These anti-smuggling measures have the support of producers' and curers' organisations and of the Pigs and Bacon Commission and I am glad to say that they have been proving effective as a safeguard for pig producers here.
(Cavan): Would the Minister tell us what protection there is for bona fide farmers and pig suppliers who send pigs to the factories, pigs that are produced and fattened in this State, when the price is reduced by £6? Have they any right of appeal? Who decides whether this will be stopped or not?
They have nothing to fear at all. The mechanisms that have been agreed between the farmer organisations and the Pigs and Bacon Commission for the control of the very serious situation that previously existed are working very satisfactorily and if an individual pig producer can demonstrate, as he readily can, that the sources of his supplies are legal and satisfactory he will be paid in full for his pigs.
(Cavan): Would the Minister be surprised to hear that I know of a case where pigs were supplied which were purchased within a few miles of the factory, that when an inspector went out the farmer concerned told him that he had sold the pigs to the supplier and yet the inspector would not accept the assurance of the farmer and the £6 per pig was stopped? Is there any right of appeal against such a decision?
I do not know the details of the case the Deputy is discussing but the owner of the pigs will not be deprived of his right if he can demonstrate that the pigs were his own and that he sold them legally to the bacon factory.
Question No. 17.
(Cavan): Is the Minister aware that under the present arrangement an inspector of his Department is the judge and jury and sole arbiter as to whether this £6 per pig will be deducted or not? Surely that is unsatisfactory? He is only human and he could make a mistake. Surely there should be some right of appeal to some tribunal?
If the Deputy has any particular case that he wants to have re-examined I will examine it.
(Cavan): Is there an appeal to the Minister?
Will there be any change in this regulation governing the transfer of pigs from the northern part of the country to the southern part after January 1st next?
I imagine that the incentive to smuggle will diminish progressively and that, therefore, the need for regulations of this kind will diminish with it but I do not anticipate that they will go out straight away.
Question No. 17. I am calling Question No. 17.
(Cavan): Is there an appeal to the Minister?
If the Deputy has any particular case he wants re-examined I will have it examined.
(Cavan): I have two cases and I have written to the Department about them.
I shall look them up.