asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has received a copy of a resolution passed by a meeting representative of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour held recently in Ballingeary calling on the Government to discontinue the existing meal-admixture scheme as applicable to this district owing to the enhanced cost and inferior quality of the admixture, and instead to place at the disposal of the people of this area quantities of pure maize meal of proved value and at reasonable cost; and what action, if any, the Minister proposes to take relative to this resolution.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Meal-Admixture Scheme.
I have received a copy of the resolution to which the Deputy refers. I have no power under the Agricultural Produce (Cereals) Act to act as suggested in that resolution.
Does the Minister interpret that resolution as evidence of the truth of the representations that have been repeatedly made to him in this House from the Opposition Benches as to the undesirability of the maize meal mixture scheme?
Did the Minister not give a sort of a promise under the new Cereals Bill that he would give some consideration to the case of the people in West Cork, pig feeders who do not grow produce of their own and who have to pay a high price for their feeding-stuffs to subsidise tillage schemes in other parts of the country?
Dr. Ryan
I do not know that the Deputy is quite right. I said we were considering schemes for such districts.
That is, districts such as West Cork and other places?
Dr. Ryan
Yes.