asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he can now give an assurance to farmers that the price of the new season's wool will be not less favourable to producers than last year's price.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Wool.
I am not in a position to give such assurance. The price of wool is not now controlled by Order.
The Minister could give an assurance when the price of wool was going up. He controlled the price then.
Will the Minister state why, since he fixed a maximum price when the price of wool was rising, he declines to fix a minimum price now that the price of wool is declining?
I do not think that the circumstances justify the fixation of a minimum price.
Are we to take it that agricultural prices are to be allowed to decline to whatever extent external circumstances may demand, regardless of the cost of production? Is the cost of production not to be taken into consideration at all?
The answer to all the Deputy's supplementary questions is in the negative.
Surely, the Minister should give some explanation as to why he refuses to interfere now. Two years ago, he interfered for the first time and fixed a maximum price. Now, he comes along and refuses to fix a minimum price when the price of wool is going down. Surely he will give some reason why he withdrew the control. He said that it was for the sake of the producer he introduced the control. Why does he withdraw it now?