asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, in view of the necessity of subsidising the sale of surplus bacon in Great Britain, he will amend the instructions on which our customs officers are at present acting on the Border in preventing the movement of pigs to the Six Counties, where a profitable market is at hand to pig producers in the Republic.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Movement of Pigs on the Border.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to the question asked by Deputy P.J. Maguire on this subject on 11th May.
Will the Minister not agree that it is absurd to be paying out of taxation the salaries of men to act as customs officers to prevent our farmers disposing of their pigs in the sundered part of Ireland, while at the same time of the pigs are not disposed of in that fashion they have to be sent to Great Britain where they can only be sold profitably by the payment of a subsidy which comes directly from the producers themselves?
If the Deputy will look at the answer to the question to which I have referred him he will find an explanation for the present situation fully set out.
I have read the answer to which I have been referred. Am I to take it that the situation is being allowed to continue because of the existence of some agreement between the Government of this country and the Government of Great Britain? Is it not reasonable to expect that, while agreements are binding so long as they are beneficial and advantageous, when they cease to be so a notification of some kind would be given that they will come to an end?
The Deputy, I think, is aware that I am at present engaged in delicate and difficult negotiations with the British Ministry of Food with a view to securing for our people a permanent and remunerative market for all pigs and bacon produced in this country. Pending the issue of those negotiations, I explained to Deputy Maguire on the 11th May that it is not possible to change the status quo, and that I propose to retain the status quo pending the issue of those negotiations.
I know of the delicacy——
Question No. 11.