asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will fix minimum prices to be paid by bacon-curers for fat pigs for a period of at least six months ahead so as to encourage increased production in this industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Minimum Prices for Pigs.
The price to be paid for bacon during the next three years by Great Britain will not be less than that payable for any imported bacon and will be fixed for 12-monthly periods. This will ensure a much greater degree of stability to producers than that envisaged by the Deputy.
Could the Minister give a guarantee as to the minimum price for the next six months for bacon including that consumed on the home market?
"Guarantee" is a word I am always reluctant to employ——
A Deputy
Since last year.
——as it sometimes betrays a defenceless person who is selling his stuff too cheap, but on this occasion I would prognosticate the likelihood of a figure not less than 190/-a cwt. for pork and personally I am rearing a number of my own pigs on that assumption.