asked the Minister for Agriculture if seed merchants will be free to import root seeds from any country they desire for the coming season.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Seed Imports.
I am examining this whole matter with a view to permitting the free importation of root seeds, but I am not at present in a position to say when this can be done. In the meantime I have advised the seed-producing firms to place their contracts for the growing of seed as heretofore and I am taking steps to ensure that no contract-grower will be left with a seed crop on his hands.
Hear, hear. It is about time you turned the other corner.
Are we to take it that the Minister has changed his announced policy again on this matter and that he is going to allow the seed growers to grow seed in the present year on the same terms on which they grew it last year?
The policy of the Government as explained by me is that there are to be no further monopolies battening on the farmers of this country. The seed monopoly is in the process of being disintegrated and will be. The propagation of pedigree seeds will be maintained under proper surveillance in future and the farmers of this country will have access to supplies of the best seeds of their own choosing in the cheapest market that they can find in the world.