asked the Minister for Agriculture if any special arrangements have been made for the purchase of the 1983 wheat crop now that Ranks (Ireland) Ltd. have closed; if he will ensure that the company will purchase Irish wheat; if he will ensure that ACOT advisers will give adequate advice to wheat growers and tillage farmers who are extremely worried about the grain prospects for 1983; if he will further ensure that there will be no restrictions on ACOT advisers visiting tillage farmers; and what is likely to happen to the miller's licence which is held by the company.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat Crop.
9.
Arrangements for the purchase of milling wheat are negotiated each year between the Irish Flour Millers Association and the IFA and I understand that negotiations in relation to the 1983 crop are currently taking place. I do not have power to require any particular company to purchase Irish wheat but I would point out that the millers' total requirements of wheat are about three times the quantity produced here last year.
I am sure that ACOT will continue to provide advice to wheat growers and tillage farmers as heretofore.
As regards the milling licences in respect of Ranks' mills, these licences are still valid and authorise the licensed company to mill wheat at the licensed premises.
Due to restrictions, advisers can now make only three or four visits to farmers. Does the Minister not agree that in such an important industry those restrictions are damaging?
I am sure that if there are extenuating circumstances the number of visits can be extended. I do not see any problems in that area.
I should like to ask the Minister if the 80-mile restriction which has been placed on ACOT advisers will curtail their activities and is he aware that some of those advisers are working only two days instead of five in the field? They are now confined for three days to the office because of this 80-mile restriction. Is he aware that in areas where farmers live a long distance from ACOT offices they will have to go without the advice mentioned in the question?
If any Deputy has an individual problem in this regard I shall be only too glad to deal with it.
This is not an individual problem. I am sure I speak for numerous farmers, not just those in County Wexford. Does the Minister agree that the ACOT advisers are now curtailed in that they have to spend three days per week in their offices when they should be out in the field?
As I stated, if there are specific problems I shall be only too glad to examine them.
Does the Minister understand the question?
(Limerick West): How will the restrictions on ACOT advisers affect the grain crop this year?
The weather is much more likely to be a problem.
(Limerick West): This is a disgraceful approach by the Minister. He has been asked a number of supplementary questions from this side of the House and he should have the courtesy to answer them.
I stated that if there were any specific problems I shall be glad to listen to the Deputies.
(Limerick West): I have about 2,000 specific problems in that area.
With reference to individual problems, I can assure the Minister that in County Cork there are thousands of individual problems. This question regarding ACOT advisers refers to all those individuals. Will the Minister look into the problem of the restrictions on ACOT advisers who have been trained to work in the field?
If there are specific problems, I shall examine them.
Is it intended to have these advisers in the field instead of having them confined to their offices for three days of the week? I want a specific answer of yes or no to that specific question.
The Deputy has asked that question a few times.
Yes, but he got no answer.
It was the same under the last Government.
The Chair is not responsible. The Chair cannot obtain answers for the Deputy. Order, please. I call on Deputy Noonan.
(Interruptions.)
If the Deputies cannot restrain themselves, they should leave the House.
(Limerick West): It is a deplorable approach on the part of the Minister for Agriculture——
A question, please, Deputy.
(Limerick West): I am putting my question. It is deplorable that the only reply which the Minister could give to my question on the restrictions on ACOT advisers in relation to grain farmers is that he hoped that the weather would improve.
I have replied several times. If the Deputy has a specific problem, I will certainly look into it.
This is repetition.
The reason we are getting no place is that we have not received an answer.
If the Deputies want to pursue the matter, they will have to find another way of doing so, not at Question Time. Question No. 10.
(Limerick West): I deserve a better answer than the one the Minister gave me.
As Deputy Noonan knows — I would like him to please accept this — the Chair has no control over how questions are answered, or whether or not they are answered. The Minister must make reasonable progress at Question Time. Deputy Treacy for a last question.
Is the Minister aware of the acute shortage of ACOT advisers in various counties and in particular in the west, in County Galway, where the ratio is one adviser for 600 farmers? Is he further aware that, due to the inclement weather, there is a major threat to the grain harvest, compounded by the shortage of ACOT advisers available to farmers? Is the Minister prepared to do anything about this situation?
That is an entirely different question from that on the Order Paper.
It is a general question. A final supplementary from Deputy Leonard.
The Minister did not answer my question.
Mr. Leonard
Arising out of the Minister's lack of reply, would he now ask each ACOT office for a report on the restrictions which the Government have imposed on ACOT advisers regarding mileage, visits and so on? The Minister is certainly not aware of the dangers in the situation.
As Deputy Leonard asked that question in a nice, civilised way, as is his wont, I will certainly ask for a report from the various ACOT offices.
So the Minister does not consider that we are nice.
I am passing to Question No. 10.
One question, please. I will be as diplomatic as the last speaker.
I am passing to Question No. 10 and I want the Minister to answer.