asked the Minister for Agriculture what proposals he is making with regard to the growing in Ireland of a substantial portion of the 1,200,000 barrels of wheat which it was found necessary to import in the year ended 31st March, 1950.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat Production.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave on 15th November to a question on this subject by Deputy Corry.
In view of the material and substantial assistance which has been given by the provision of fertilisers and otherwise to make the land more productive, and in view of the fact that the increase in price which the Minister just mentioned still leaves the position that we import 1,200,000 barrels of wheat, would the Minister consider taking any further steps so that the deficit between our imports and our home production can be narrowed?
I am grateful to the Deputy for his recognition of the encouragement which has been given to production. One has to bear in mind that the present price payable for wheat is the highest price ever guaranteed by an Irish Government. While it is true that imported wheat constitutes a substantial element of our imports, a certain part of it consists of Manitoba wheat, which cannot be produced in this hemisphere at all, and we have to get that in, no matter what wheat we grow. Looking at the import and export sides of the account, to get the balance of trade one has to bear in mind that exports play a very substantial part in establishing the balance of trade and that it may sometimes contribute to a further imbalance if one persists in the production of wheat on unsuitable land which might be profitably used for another purpose. For that reason my policy is to offer an attractive price for home-grown wheat, leaving it to the individual farmer to determine what part of his land can most appropriately be used for the production of that particular product.
There is still a deficit here which should be narrowed so that a greater proportion of wheat could be grown at home.
More soft wheat could be grown at home. It is not easy to resolve the exact balance which it is expedient to fix between the claims of wheat and other cereal crops on our land. I am hopeful that we shall replace a very large volume of our present imports of maize by cereal production from our lands here. The Deputy will bear in mind that at the present moment, we have more wheat in store in Ireland than we have ever had before in the history of the country.
Arising out of the Minister's reply to Deputy Lehane that 62/6 is the highest price ever guaranteed by an Irish Government, will the Minister not realise that this price was guaranteed in the autumn of 1947, and that since 1947 the costs of wheat production have risen greatly as against the farmer and that the Minister should give some indication that he proposes to review the situation now after three years?
Is the Minister now willing to be found dead in a field of wheat?
Not for the protection of the flour racketeers. Study the Flour Milling Commission's report.
Let the Minister read the report.