asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make funds available to aid the Irish Rye-Grass Machiners Association so that they can honour their contracts with growers of grass seed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grass Seed Growers.
50.
I have no funds at my disposal for the purpose stated.
Will the Minister agree that because his Department did not control the issue of licences for the importation of seed from countries outside the EEC that home growers are in a bad way? In my constituency 970 growers are faced with the problem that the machiners have notified them they may not be able to honour their contracts to purchase their seed. The result is that £130,000 income will be lost to those farmers. Does the Minister not agree he should provide some money?
No, because licences are not issued for imports from third countries.
We produce in the country approximately 1,500 tons of seed and we require 2,500 tons. An extra 1,000 tons would probably be sufficient. This year up to 3,000 tons have been imported. How was this imported if it was not on licence?
The levy was paid.
Do the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries allow this seed in without licence?
They have no power to stop it.
Does the Minister not agree that there is a very low import levy on seed from those third countries? Can the Minister not increase the levy?
I cannot. I would if I could. I have used every means at my disposal to keep out seed from third countries.
Question No. 51.
Does the Minister not agree that co-operatives and other people who have not seed, whether it is grass seed, barley seed or other seed, endeavoured over the years to implement a contract system with farmers so that we would have a steady supply to meet the demand? Now, because the machiners are unable to meet their contracts without getting aid from the Department this will all go for nought.
The Deputy is making a statement.
Is the Deputy aware that about 70 per cent of the imports are brought in by the machiners and then they start shouting? They are the people who are importing the seed.
Arising out of what the Minister said——
I have given the Deputy a lot of latitude.
970 farmers in County Monaghan will lose £130,000. Is the Minister aware that those farmers were notified about this a month ago when it was too late? They are small farmers without silage pits. If they were large farmers who had silage pits they could use the grass for silage. Many of those small farmers were depending on this to meet their fertiliser bills and their rates.
The Deputy will have to find another opportunity to debate this matter. I am calling the next question.
Due to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.