asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that the present price for whiting in the Six Counties is £2 per box for all grades and that the price being received by fishermen in Dublin is 25/- per box for large and 8/- per box for small whiting; and, if so, whether he will take effective steps to ensure that fishermen in this country will receive prices comparable with those received in the Six Counties.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Whiting.
I understand that the maximum price that fishermen in the Six Counties can receive at present for whiting is 5/4 per stone. The maximum prices in accordance with the Emergency Powers (Fish) (Maximum Prices) Order, 1944, which our fishermen may receive on the wholesale market for such fish are 9/4 per stone for large and 7/- per stone for small fish. The actual prices within these maxima received by fishermen naturally depend on supply and demand. Considerable quantities of whiting have been marketed through the Dublin Wholesale Fish Market in recent weeks as is usual at this time of year and consequently prices have on occasion reached comparatively low levels, especially for small or ungutted fish. In the circumstances, action on my part as suggested by the Deputy is not called for.