asked the Minister for Agriculture whether in view of the scarcity of perennial and Italian ryegrass seed and the increase of over 70 per cent. in the price as compared with last year, he will license imports of grass seed for the convenience of farmers throughout the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports of Grass Seed.
It is anticipated that supplies of home-grown perennial ryegrass seed available this season will be sufficient to meet requirements, and there is, therefore, no necessity to issue licences for the importation of this seed. Arrangements have already been made to allow the importation under licence by seed cleaners of a sufficient quantity of unmachined Italian ryegrass seed to meet a deficiency in home-grown stocks. The increase in the price of ryegrass seed this season is general and is not confined to this country.
Is the Minister aware that the price of rye grass seed has risen by 70 per cent. since last year? Will he, in the light of that fact, allow farmers to import from Northern Ireland or Great Britain where they can get it at a reasonable figure?
The increase is not confined to the Twenty-Six Counties. The Deputy knows that there has also been an increase in the price in the Six Counties.
The Deputy knows only too well to his cost what the price of rye grass seed is. He knows that it is not 70 per cent. more than it was last year in Northern Ireland or in Great Britain, and if the Minister will give me a licence to bring it in, I will do so at a price much under the 70 per cent. increase.
Deputies will observe the time. I shall allow no supplementaries on the remaining questions.