asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state, in relation to turkeys for export (a) whether the price for the coming season was discussed by himself or officers of his Department during their recent food talks in London; (b) whether the report that the British Food Minister's decision to class Éire turkeys as "foreign" is correct, and if so, when and how he received such information; (c) what action he has taken in the matter; and (d) whether Éire birds, in recent years, proved not only superior to foreign but to the best Norfolk birds.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export of Turkeys.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether his attention has been directed to a decision of the British Minister of Food to have Éire turkeys imported into Great Britain classified as "foreign" which will result in a reduction of the price payable to Éire producers as against that payable to producers in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, by 9d. a lb.; and if he will state whether his Department has received any communication from the British Minister concerning this decision.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, in view of the serious losses threatened to poultry producers in this country by the classification of Éire turkeys imported into Great Britain as "foreign", he will take immediate steps to enter into negotiations with the British Ministry of Food to secure a more favourable classification for Éire turkeys.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, in view of the recognised high quality of the Irish turkeys on the British market, he intends to negotiate with the British Food Ministry for a better price for Irish turkeys than that indicated by the recent decision of the said Ministry to classify Irish turkeys as "foreign".
With your permission, a Chinn Comhairle, I propose to take Questions 22 to 25 together.
In an Order made by the British Minister of Food increased prices were prescribed for turkeys as from 1st September, 1946. There was no differentiation in the Order between home produced and imported birds and consequently the increased prices applied to imports from this country. In a letter dated 23rd October addressed to the High Commissioner, London, the Ministry of Food stated that it was decided to have a differential price between home produced and imported birds; that this was to be effected by reducing the price for imported birds and that the imported price was to apply to our turkeys. This was the first official intimation received of the proposed reduction in our price. Appropriate representations have been made to the Minister of Food on various grounds including the superior quality of our turkeys but, so far, these representations have not proved effective.
The Minister made no reference whatever to (a) in my question, whether this matter was discussed by himself or officers of his Department during their recent food talks in London.
It was.
In view of the importance of this whole matter, with your permission, Sir, I propose to raise this matter on the adjournment.