asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state by the authority of what order or statute he intends to deprive egg exporters of the bounty on an entire shipment of eggs, in the event of the contents of one case out of the shipment not conforming to the standard prescribed by the regulations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bounty on Egg Exports.
Dr. Ryan
The payment of a bounty on the export of eggs is made as an act of grace and not as a statutory obligation. It is, therefore, within my discretion to refuse to pay in whole or in part a bounty in any instance in which I am satisfied that the grading, etc., of the eggs has not been carried out in accordance with the Regulations made under the Agricultural Produce (Eggs) Acts, 1924 and 1930.
There have been unfortunately too many instances in which eggs have been described as belonging to a higher grade than the Regulations would warrant in order to secure the bigger bounty payable on the higher grade. In the circumstances, I had no option but to issue a warning circular on the lines indicated in the Deputy's question.