asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the imminent high prices of fertilisers and their reduced availability will make for a reduction in fertiliser usage with consequent problems in both the carrying and the winter feeding of increased stock numbers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fertiliser Usage.
21.
While the prices of fertilisers are, because of the world situation, dearer this season, supplies generally are stated to be adequate although supplies of nitrogen had been causing some concern.
Farmers who have followed and continue to follow the advice given by my Department during the year should be able to provide adequate feed for their stock.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that there was a shortage of fertiliser this year and some farmers were unable to get it?
Yes. That is embodied in the answer. While the prices of fertilisers are, because of the world situation, dearer this season, supplies generally are more difficult to obtain. Fertilisers are dearer this year, and they are dearer through no fault of the Government but due to general world conditions.
How much of a shortage of fertiliser was there this year?
Did we export fertilisers?
Yes. The position seems to be quite in order.
(Interruptions.)
The Parliamentary Secretary is embarrassing his colleagues.
I have answered the question, and I am endeavouring to give as much information as possible.
We thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his assurance that everything is in order—we did not know what the situation was—but would the Parliamentary Secretary care to say whether or not the fertiliser subsidy as we know it will continue?
That question has already been answered.
Is the answer "yes" or "no"?
The question was answered and if Deputies were not listening to the answer——
We did not hear the answer.
Question No. 22.
(Interruptions.)
What about the order on the far side of the House a Cheann Comhairle? Have you only one ear?
No. 22.
Could we have the answer to Question No. 20? With the noise from the Government benches we did not hear the answer.
22.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the reason for the decrease of 24 per cent in ground limestone usage this year, in view of the fact that soil conditions necessitate greater use.
Total deliveries of ground limestone in 1973-74 were approximately 21 per cent lower than in the preceding year. As I indicated in the Dáil on 6th June last, this decline in consumption was caused mainly by the very wet weather prevailing from October to April last, which rendered difficult the use of machinery for the spreading of ground limestone.
Deliveries in the first two months —April-May, 1974—of the current limestone year 1974-75 were greater than in the corresponding period of 1972-73, indicating a recovery in demand for limestone.
Again, a Cheann Comhairle, I must call your attention to this nonsensical explanation that the Parliamentary Secretary is offering to the question. Is the Parliamentary Secretary serious in suggesting that the reason for the calamitous drop in the use of ground limestone is the condition of the ground upon which it is being spread, because if that is what he is saying I can tell him it is nonsense.
It is a contributing factor.
No. 23.
Arising further——
There was only one supplementary question asked. I know you have a difficult job, a Cheann Comhairle, controlling the Parliamentary Secretary, but surely it is unfair——
Twenty-three questions in an hour, and the Deputy attributes unfairness to the Chair.
The Chair should be absolutely neutral——
(Interruptions.)
——but this House is being turned into a farce by your ruling.
Deputies
Chair, Chair.