asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has received any representations in the matter of the deadlock between the Irish Sugar Manufacturing Company, Limited, Carlow, and the Irish Beet Growers' Association, as to the price to be paid for beet; and if he will state what steps he has taken or intends to take to end the deadlock.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dispute in Beet Sugar Trade.
I desire to refer the Deputy to the reply given to-day by the Minister for Finance to Deputy Derrig on the subject.
The season is now about to open. Seeing that I am not satisfied with the reply the Minister for Agriculture has given. I think the matter should be raised on the adjournment. As the Minister for Finance has refused to answer, I would like to give notice that I will raise the matter on the adjournment with the Minister for Agriculture.
Notice has already been accepted by the Chair.
Mr. Hogan
That is not exactly a question, but I will take it as a question. The suggestion is that somebody representing the Government is to act in this dispute as an arbitrator, and at the same time the Government is to commit itself to a definite line of policy in the Dáil this evening. What is the object of that? There is no Deputy in the Dáil but knows that an arbitrator who has taken one side or other before an arbitration comes on is impossible. We may have our own views, but you put yourself out of court as an arbitrator if you have to make a definite statement before the case comes off. We are being pressed here, in whose interests? to make this definite statement.
Does the Minister say they are going to arbitrate?
Is the Minister in possession of the beet growers' point of view in this matter, and is he prepared to give an assurance that he will intervene?
Mr. Hogan
I should not be asked to say that. I am prepared to say that I am perfectly satisfied that the line I am taking now is approved of by the beet growers and that the beet growers or anyone with their interests at heart should be the last to ask me or any other member of the Government to make a definite statement at this stage with regard to the dispute.