asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in the event of a surplus in the coming year, he will state the arrangements he has made to sell barley into intervention; and the price farmers may expect for barley from the field.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Intervention Barley.
32.
In the event of intervention being necessary it is intended that the existing arrangements agreed with the grain trade in regard to the purchase of cereals offered for intervention will also apply next year. Under these arrangements the seller is required to store the grain until it has been sold by the Intervention Agency.
The price payable to barley producers is a matter for negotiation between the producers and the grain merchants.
Will the Minister agree that the indications are that there will be an increase in acreage under barley——
I hope so.
——but that because of the decline in the pig industry there will not be the demand to meet this increased output? Would the Minister be prepared to take some steps regarding the pig industry so as to ensure that this extra output of barley will be used?
The Deputy is aware that no grain has been offered so far in Ireland for intervention and that if we were to meet the amount of the deficit in grain here, we would require an extra 500,000 acres to produce it but the likelihood of this amount being produced is simply not on.
There is a decline in the pig industry.
The Deputy is broadening the scope of the question.
We are importing 400,000 tons of grain annually.
The indications are that we will not be importing any more because of the decline in the pig industry.
I cannot accept that.
Some help should be given to the industry now.
This question has no relevance to the pig industry.
As is the case with regard to everything else, the Minister has no responsibility for that, either.