asked the Minister for Agriculture whether in view of the disastrous prices at present obtaining for eggs he will consider increasing the rates of bounty at present in force on egg exports from extra selected 2/-, selected 2/-, mediums 1/7, ducks, 1/7, to 4/-, 4/-, 3/7 and 3/7 respectively, i.e., rates obtaining before he reduced them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bounty on Egg Exports.
As indicated by me in the debate on the 5th instant with reference to the Supplementary Estimate for the Vote for Export Bounties and Subsidies, it is possible, in view of the increase in the exportable surplus of eggs and the actual and possible restrictions on the quantities which other countries will take from us, that in the near future the present rates of bounty on eggs will have to be reduced.
If, as is practically certain, an increase in the present bounty were to encourage further production, the absence of markets in which the additional exportable surplus could be disposed of would react disastrously on the price of eggs. It is obvious that the securing of a reasonable price to poultry keepers can, in the circumstances, best be secured if production is limited to such quantities as the available markets could just about absorb.