asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the action he proposes to take in view of the decision of some merchants involved in the cattle feed voucher scheme to sue his Department and the Irish Fresh Meat Exporters' Association in order to recover payments due on feed vouchers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Voucher Scheme.
15.
As I indicated in my reply to questions on 4th November last, the Irish Fresh Meat Exporters' Society received more than enough money to pay all genuine vouchers.
I understand that legal proceedings have been taken by feed merchants against the society on foot of unpaid vouchers. My Department is not involved.
Does the Minister not accept that, without any prejudice to any court action, he should honour those vouchers?
No. The Department gave no undertaking. Any undertaking given was given by the Fresh Meat Exporters' Society. It was their voucher and their undertaking. I am legally advised that we have no obligation to pay.
Does the Minister not accept that it is likely that the court will find in favour of the merchants? Does he not accept that these merchants are the innocent victims of a scheme of his?
It is not a scheme of mine.
The Minister took credit for it.
I certainly persuaded the Fresh Meat Exporters' Society to bring it in.
Would the Minister not agree that he made a lot of play of it 12 months ago?
I explained that it was a useful scheme and that I was responsible for persuading the society to introduce it.
The Minister claimed responsibility for initiating the scheme. When the Minister did that he should accept responsibility for seeing that the merchants are paid their due.
I am legally advised that I cannot so act.
The Minister went to town on the scheme when it was introduced. When replying to a question of mine in relation to the scheme he informed me that he could do nothing until the court case was over but today he said he would not do anything irrespective of how the case goes. The Minister has a moral obligation in this regard.
I informed the House that I was legally advised that I had no responsibility and could not pay. If the court holds that the responsibility is mine, that is a different matter.
Does the Minister agree that for any future scheme it will be very hard to get the merchants to co-operate with the farmers?
The Government always pay their bills.