asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will give the folowing details with regard to conditions of intervention for wheat for this year: (a) price (b) testing and (c) the amount allowed into intervention.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat Intervention Prices.
14.
The intervention prices for wheat applicable in Ireland in August, 1975 will be £65.23 per tonne at the port intervention centres and £64.49 per tonne at the inland centres. These prices will increase on the first day of each month from September, 1975 to May, 1976 by 75p per tonne. The discussions on the conditions which will apply to intervention for the coming harvest and which include those for quality and the minimum quantity acceptable, have not yet been finalised in Brussels.
Is the Minister aware that the intervention system on the continent has been misused completely in so far as feeding wheat has been allowed go into intervention the same as millable wheat? Is the Minister further aware that the millers determine who can buy wheat for intervention; that the merchants have no say any longer? Would the Minister care to comment on that?
The only comment I make is that intervention is open to us at a known price, in advance, and that it is up 9 per cent on last year. That is all that should really concern growers.
No, I do not accept that.
A question, please, Deputy.
It has come to light now that the millers can determine the intake point.
That is not a question.
It is a question.
It is not a question.
Is the Minister aware also that the millers can determine who can buy wheat for intervention; that that about which we have been crying for years, the intake points——
All I can say to the Deputy is that, as far as I am concerned, that is not correct, but I shall take another look at it. I do not think the Deputy is correct in that statement.
Question No. 15.
Might I ask the Minister if our domestic market would be upset in any way by the almost certainty of the availability of export refunds to French producers?
I cannot say to what extent that would affect our markets.
The Minister will appreciate, especially in view of the collapse of the £ sterling, the likelihood is that export refunds payable on French exports to this country will be rising?
I am not sure that the refunds will apply to exports to member States.
They did last year.
It is more likely they will apply to third country exports.