asked the Minister for Agriculture the proposals he has for the shortening of the sugar beet harvest campaign to ensure that no sugar beet is left in the ground and to ensure that land is not compacted by movement of heavy machinery in late November, December and January.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Sugar Beet Harvest Campaign.
1.
The operation of the beet harvest campaign is a matter for the Sugar Company. I understand that when its current investment programme has been completed the company aims to finish the campaign well before Christmas each year.
Is the Minister aware that the beet harvest campaign has gone on long after Christmas for the past number of years? In order to improve the situation can the Minister say if his Department are putting any money into the beet factories this year?
I am aware that the season is lengthier than the Sugar Company would wish. They are aiming at a target of a 100-day season. Unfortunately, because of the inadequate capacity at intake, they overreach this. The Deputy has asked if there are plans to increase the capacity for intake. It is the intention in Carlow to increase the intake by 1,000 tonnes, to bring it from 5,000 tonnes up to 6,000 tonnes a day, and to have that done by 1986. It is the intention in Mallow to increase the intake from 4,000 tonnes to 5,000 tonnes a day and in Thurles to increase the intake from 3,900 tonnes to 4,500 tonnes a day. I might point out that the capacity in Tuam is underutilised, where it accounts for only 60 per cent of existing capacity. At present the campaign runs on average for 115 days in Carlow and for a similar length in Mallow. It runs for 104 days in Thurles and for 60 days in Tuam but the Sugar Company are endeavouring to get it down to 100 days.
Would the Minister agree that much of the machinery in all of our four factories is outdated, that some of it has been there since the factories were opened? I repeat the question — and I hope the Minister will tell me this time — what are his intentions in regard to shortening the beet harvest campaign? Is the Minister aware also of the severe loss in sugar content from about mid-November onwards? Is he aware that this constitutes a big loss to our economy and, because of that, would the Minister not now endeavour to have factory capacity improved significantly before 1986?
As I pointed out, this work is going on at present. If Deputies visit any of the sugar factories they will see there a vast programme of modernisation going on. The work is being done with a view to having that capacity increased by 1986.
I appreciate that the Minister is urging the Sugar Company to reduce the sugar beet harvesting campaign. Would the Minister accept from me that if the Tuam Sugar Factory was to close the campaign would be increasing in the remaining three factories as the beet would have to be transferred from the Tuam catchment area to the other centres? As Tuam is being discussed today by the Sugar Company, would the Minister bear this in mind, that should the Sugar Company decide to close Tuam the beet would have to be transferred to the other three factories to have it harvested in those factories?
That is a very natural conclusion. Of course I agree, It is only commonsense.
Would the Minister agree that if the Tuam factory is closed it will lengthen the campaign in the other factories? Can the Minister tell us the actual capacity intake in Tuam? Further, would he agree that no modernisation whatever has taken place in Tuam for a number of years, while on his own admission it is taking place in the other factories? It is obvious, therefore, that there has been discrimination against Tuam for a long period?
As I pointed out, the intake in the other factories is being considerably increased and that necessarily means there would be a lengthening of the season.
I think the Minister stated that Tuam is operating at something like 60 per cent of capacity?
Yes.
I would make the case to the Minister that this factory in Tuam can be developed if the Sugar Company are prepared to spend money on it. Tuam is up for decision to-day. The Sugar Company are meeting today and I want to put it to the Minister that irrespective——
It is not in the question. The Deputy could have considered a Private Notice Question.
With respect, if the Tuam Sugar Factory was to close the length of the campaign would be extended in the other three factories. Is the Minister being consistent in what he says——
I would appeal to Deputies to approach Question Time in a reasonable way.
——in trying to have the campaign shortened? Would he bear in mind that the Tuam sugar factory can be developed? Also if the Sugar Company decide to recommend the closure of Tuam today, would the Minister say that such decision would not be accepted by him? I would ask him not to accept it.
Deputies rose.
I am appealing to Deputies to approach Question Time in a reasonable way. We have had about ten supplementaries on this first question. We started Question Time dead on 2.30 p.m.
My supplementary is brief and very much to the point. Does the Minister agree that the continuing lengthy campaign is putting beet growers out of business, causing a situation in which they are giving up the growing of beet altogether? Because this is so, and because the money is not being put into factories——
That is a speech, Deputy.
No, it is not. I want to know if the Minister's Department have considered storage. I know there was a survey undertaken a few years ago by An Foras Talúntais. I should like to know what were the results of that survey.
What has that got to do with the question? It is a separate question.
It is not. I am talking about the campaign.
The Deputy should not argue with the Chair and I would ask him please not to.
I am sorry for doing that, but would the Minister consider storage in the light of the result of the Foras Talúntais survey?
Question No. 2.
A Cheann Comhairle, I asked a question and I would like it answered.
I have no control over that. I am calling on Deputy Noonan.
(Limerick West): In view of the fact that the Minister stated that the existing capacity in Tuam is being utilised to the extent of 60 per cent only, in order to shorten the campaign would he ask the Sugar Company to ensure that the sugar factory at Tuam would be extended or that its capacity be utilised to its full potential?
This is purely a matter for the Sugar Company. As I pointed out, the facilities are being extended at the other factories to enable them——
(Limerick West): Why not Tuam?
That is purely an internal matter for the board of the Sugar Company.
Deputies rose.
All the Chair can do is to appeal to Members to treat Question Time in a reasonable way.
Deputies' time is being wasted; that is what is being done.
(Limerick West): I agree with you, a Cheann Comhairle. But the Minister is not replying to the question.
Unsatisfactory replies are the cause of it.
Deputies will have to find another platform, another forum.
The supplementary questions bear no relation to the original question.
The Minister knows nothing about the Sugar Company.
If the Deputies are determined to disregard the Chair's ruling the Chair will have no alternative but to adjourn the House. I am not going through an hour of disorder. I will allow Deputy Treacy to ask a final supplementary question on this matter.
It refers to two previous questions which I asked the Minister. The first question was to ask him to tell us the exact intake capacity of the Tuam factory. The second question was to ask him to differentiate between his admission earlier that all the factories were undergoing modernisation and the fact that there has not been any investment in the modernisation of the Tuam factory in the past few years.
That is a separate question. I am calling Question No. 2.