asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that potatoes grown in the Milford, County Donegal, district which heretofore would have been shipped from the port of Milford are now being diverted and shipped from other ports with a resultant substantial loss to the producers; and, if so, if he will have steps taken to rectify this position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shipping of Potatoes (County Donegal).
Mr. Walsh
Potatoes for the Continent have not heretofore been shipped from the port of Milford and such shipments as took place from that port in previous years were consigned to Britain.
Up to the present all exports of the 1951 crop from County Donegal have been for the Continent, and were purchased on an f.o.b. basis, the buyers chartering the ships.
Is the Minister aware that the tonnage of the ships used for the transport of the potatoes this year from the Milford district is of such a size as to allow them to use the facilities at Milford Port, and whether in view of the savings in diversionary charges, he will take steps to have the potatoes shipped from that port in future?
Mr. Walsh
They select the port themselves.
There is a difference of 10/- in the freight from Mulroy Port as against Milford. I understand it is the marketing board which makes the arrangements for the chartering of the ships, and I want to ask the Minister to make representations to the board on this matter.
Mr. Walsh
It is the purchasers who do that.