asked the Minister for Supplies why he does not import Manitoba wheat in the available cargo space, and grow oats and barley in Ireland instead of using available cargo space to transport inferior oats and maize from Canada.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Importation of Grain, Sugar and Tea.
I refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave to a similar question addressed to me yesterday by Deputy Hughes.
Does the Minister think it desirable, in view of the fact that we grow the best oats in the world in this country, that available cargo space should be used for the purpose of bringing in inferior oats from Canada, and maize which is well known to be inferior—maize is generally brought into this country from the Argentine— for the sole purpose of beating down the price of oats produced by farmers in this country, at a time when there is a serious shortage of shipping, and when cargo space could be utilised to bring in the best wheat in the world? Why do you want to bring in oats?
I answered the question yesterday. If the Deputy refers to the reply, he will know why.
Why do you want to bring in oats to beat down the price of oats produced in this country, while you are making speeches at Fianna Fáil cumainn to the effect that you are afraid there will be a shortage of food in this country——
Is there any limit——
Deputy Dillon is making a speech.
I am not making a speech.
It is the opinion of the Chair that the Deputy is.
asked the Minister for Supplies whether he will avail of the shipping space now vacant in the Irish ships to import sugar and tea from America.
Space will be provided on the Irish ships for any quantity of sugar which it may be found possible to purchase in the American Continent. It is not now practicable to purchase tea in the United States or in any other American country.
Can the Minister forecast what quantity of sugar he will be able to secure?
No.
Does he hope to be able to increase the sugar ration as a result of such purchases as he may be able to make?
That is a very hypothetical question which I could not hope to answer.
Is it true that the Minister was in a position to purchase sugar about three months ago and refused to buy it?
That is not so.