asked the Minister for Agriculture if it is intended to restore the export bounty on sheep and lambs; if he is aware that small farmers are feeling the hardship of the British tariff of ten shillings a head on sheep and lambs exported and that the restoration of the bounty would help them.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export Bounty on Sheep and Lambs.
I am not prepared at the moment to restore the export bounty on sheep and lambs.
I am sure the Minister is aware that last autumn breeding ewes were making from 10/- and 15/- more than in 1933. As the export trade in spring lambs will start on the 1st April I am sure the Minister will see his way to give a bounty for spring lambs, anyway. These spring lambs will average about 36 lbs. each and that means an extra tariff of 3¼d. a lb. on these young spring lambs. That will affect the small farmers whom the Government say are their friends.
Dr. Ryan
We had better wait and see how they will get on.
Do I understand that Deputy Keating now admits that some portion of the bounties goes to the farmers, notwithstanding his previous protestations that it did not?
That is not a supplementary question to the Minister.