asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what justification there was for the claim made in the statement from the Government Information Bureau to the effect that the decision to permit export of fat and store pigs was taken in order to avert a threatened reduction in the price payable by curers for pigs of suitable weights and that it has effectively operated to this end, since according to the reply to Question No. 5 of 6th December no fat pigs were exported during the period in question.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Export of Pigs.
The Bacon Curers' Association informed the Department that a heavy surplus of pigs existed in the country in anticipation of which they reduced the price of pork to 180/- and informed me that there was every prospect of their further reducing the price of pork to 150/-. Consequent on this announcement, in order to protect producers, I took appropriate measures to make available to producers an alternative outlet, and whatever may be the propriety of describing the logic of subsequent events as post hoc propter hoc, the present price of pork is 200/- per cwt. or thereabouts.
Will the Minister say what his purpose was in explaining to me in this House last week, in reply to a parliamentary question, that he as Minister could not be expected to enforce regulations of the Stormont Government, which should not be there at all in the six north eastern counties of this country? What was his reason for giving that statement as a reason for the removal of the ban?
Having given what appears to me a thoroughly coherent answer, I think it exceeds reason to demand that I parse it for the Deputy. If you so direct, I will undertake the assignment to the limit of my capacity.
Will the Minister say if, prior to the removal of the ban on 25th October, he had any discussions with bacon curers in this country, if he informed them as to his intentions——
I just told the Deputy.
——and if he admits now that one of these concerns has notified its intention to close down at the end of this month as a result of the removal of the ban——
No.
——and if their statement to the effect that they did not indicate their intention to reduce the price of pigs is true?
There is no truth in the statement that the closing of Lunhams, Cork, has any connection because I told this House, and it is recorded on the pages of the Official Report, six months ago, that Lunhams were proposing to close and that I was urging them to stay open and doing everything I could to help them. Deputy McGrath will confirm that.
That is quite true.
Will the Minister, in fairness to the Deputies opposite, attempt the impossible and give an answer which will be acceptable to Deputy Smith, who wants to increase the price to the producers, and to Deputy Lemass, and to Deputy de Valera, who are worried about the high prices consumers have to pay?
The price went up even yesterday.
My constant anxiety is to satisfy Deputy Smith.
Bacon increased in price by 2d. per lb. this week.