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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 29 Nov 1951

Vol. 128 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flax.

andMr. P. O'Reilly asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has received representations from flax growers in County Monaghan and County Cavan demurring to his revocation of the Emergency Powers Scutching of Flax Order, 1946, and whether he is prepared to discuss this matter with representatives of flax growers from County Monaghan and County Cavan should they seek an interview; and, further, whether the proposal of the South of Ireland Flax Scutch Millers' and Growers' Association to levy a charge of 10/- per contract on every person making a flax-growing contract with the Flax Spinners' Association, Belfast, was submitted to him for his approval; and, if so, what action he has taken in the matter.

No such representations have been received in my Department. The Order in question applied only to the two Counties of Cavan and Monaghan, and if it were intended to serve a useful purpose it should have applied to the whole flax-growing area of the country. Although the Order was made in 1948 and it was common knowledge that a price higher than that fixed by the Order was being charged for scutching, no prosecution resulted. I have received no request for an interview on this matter from flax growers. No proposal to make the levy referred to was submitted to me for approval. Arrangements for the disposal of the flax crop are not at present the responsibility of my Department.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, and with regard to the second part of the question, "whether the proposal of the South of Ireland Flax Scutch Millers' and Growers' Association to levy a charge of 10/- per contract on every person making a flax-growing contract", will he be good enough to bring the matter before the Minister for Agriculture to prevent any irregularities happening next year?

Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that the former Minister for Agriculture penalised the flax growers in County Monaghan and County Cavan while he allowed the flax growers in the other two counties to get away with these emergency Orders, and can he explain why this was done?

There is an extraordinary history behind this Order. It was made first in 1944 and renewed in 1946. In June, 1948, it was revoked, and when the flax-scutching season came on the scutch price increased substantially. The former Minister, Deputy Dillon, reimposed this Order and, strange to say, in reimposing it, he covered only the two counties, his own constituency and mine, although the price being charged for scutching flax in other flax areas, Donegal and West Cork, was higher than in either Monaghan or Cavan. The history of the fumbling of this flax business has been extraordinary in the last three years, and those who have responsibility for it should be ashamed to put a question on the Order Paper concerning it.

Arising out of the Minister's irrelevant reply, he has not replied to the second portion of my question. I suggest that the answer given is ridiculous. It is ridiculous for a person to make that answer here to-day.

The answer given is a result of the fumbling to which I have referred in the handling and negotiating of price and the general direction of the flax industry. These matters are now, as a result of this, no longer the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture. Deputy O'Reilly is himself responsible for supporting the person who has brought about that state of affairs.

Is the Minister going to give me any indication that this matter of the 10/- levy will be brought before the Minister for Agriculture so as to prevent such irregularities as brought racketeers from the south of Ireland, flax millers and growers' associations, into being?

The Minister has given Deputy O'Reilly to understand that he himself is responsible for taking the matter out of the hands of the Minister for Agriculture.

You are responsible.

I would not like to be responsible for your acts in this matter.

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