asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that fertilisers are being stockpiled by the main distributors; and if he will take action to prevent this undesirable development.
27.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fertiliser Stocks.
26.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that large stocks of fertilisers are being held by the trade against price rises yet to come; and if he will take all necessary steps to stop profiteering at the expense of farmers.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 27 together.
I have received some complaints that fertilisers are being stockpiled by the main distributors. In the ordinary way I have no objection to stockpiling as long as supplies are made freely available to users at prices related to the actual cost to the distributors. I would, however, deplore any stockpiling aimed at securing unfair profits and, as I have already announced, I have decided to establish a Prices Advisory Body under the Prices Acts to conduct a public inquiry into fertiliser prices.
The Minister is locking the stable door when the horse is gone.
Did the Department's inspectors check the stocks before the increases?
A monitoring of the level of stocks at the major distribution points has been carried out by the Department. The Deputy will be aware that small stocks, running from tens of tons to hundreds of tons, are held in very many places. Without getting information from Deputies, or from other interested members of the public, about suspected profiteering, it would be impossible for us to monitor all the stocks. A significant monitoring of the major stocks has taken place.
Were the stocks of co-ops and individual merchants monitored?
If the Deputy is asking were they all monitored the answer is no, but a significant sample of them was monitored.