asked the Minister for Agriculture whether, in view of his statement reported in the Official Reports (Volume 129, No. 2, column 232) that he has no concern with the price paid by Messrs. Guinness for malting barley, he will indicate what assistance barley growers can expect from him in negotiating a higher price for barley.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Barley Prices.
Mr. O'Higgins
Mr. Walsh
Since 1949 the price of malting barley has been freely negotiated between Messrs. Guinness and the growers' representatives. So long as that position obtains the necessity for official intervention in the matter does not arise.
Mr. O'Higgins
I would like to know from the Minister whether his statement that he has no concern with the price paid by Messrs. Guinness for barley is an indication that he will not assist the barley growers in negotiating a fair or better price for next year's crop.
Mr. Walsh
I have no intention of interfering between the growers and Messrs. Guinness in negotiations on price.
Mr. O'Higgins
Will the Minister give his assistance to barley growers?
Mr. Walsh
I am not going to interfere one way or the other.
You have interfered.
Mr. Walsh
I have not.
You reduced the price and raised the profits.
Mr. Walsh
That is the line of sabotage that has been disseminated through the country by the people opposite—sabotage in the drive for more food production.
It is sticking out.
Mr. Walsh
That is the sabotage.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to a statement in a number of newspapers that Government pressure prevented Messrs. A. Guinness from guaranteeing a higher price for malting barley this year; and, if so, if he will state whether there is any truth in this suggestion.
Mr. Walsh
The statements referred to by the Deputy are untrue and have already been denied by Messrs. Guinness.
Would the Minister state on what date the agreement with Messrs. Guinness was negotiated and whether within one month before that date and one month after that date he or the officials of his Department had any contact with Messrs. Guinness in reference to the price of barley?
Mr. Walsh
There has been no contact with Messrs. Guinness by officials of my Department or by myself since last August.
Is the Minister not conscious of the fact that the reduction of 9/- in the price of malting barley from 84/- to 75/- is making a present of additional profits to Guinness and Company?
Mr. Walsh
I had nothing whatsoever to do with the negotiating of the price of the 1951-52 barley—nothing whatever.
Is the Minister aware that the negotiations for the fixing of the price of barley were conducted by prominent members of the Fine Gael Party?
Mr. O'Higgins
Do not talk nonsense.
And members of the Fine Gael Party recommended that price.
Mr. O'Higgins
Is the Minister aware that Deputy Cogan again supports the Minister?
The gentleman in question is a supporter of Deputy Cogan, although he is not in his constituency.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if any consultations have taken place between any Government Department and Messrs. Guinness in connection with the reduction in the price of Irish-grown malting barley and if he will state any reasons why the Irish producer of barley should not obtain a price similar to the price paid to the English producer.
Mr. Walsh
I would refer the Deputy to the denial issued by Messrs. Guinness and published in two of the Dublin daily newspapers of the unfounded suggestion that the recent price agreement between that company and representatives of the growers of malting barley was influenced by Government action.
Might I ask if the Minister would reply to the second portion of the question?
Mr. Walsh
That is the reply that has been given to me.
The second part of the question is "if he will state any reasons why the Irish producer of barley should not obtain a price similar to the price paid to the English producer."
Mr. Walsh
As I have already pointed out in this House in reply to a similar question, I had no hand, act or part in the fixing of this price. It has been free negotiation between the growers and Messrs. Guinness, as it has been for the past three years and, surely, when the Government has not interfered in the past, I am not going to interfere in the fixing of price.
Mr. O'Higgins
A funny time it is announced.
Surely the Minister is aware that Messrs. Guinness decided on a certain price. Messrs. Guinness decided to pay the Irish farmer a price of 2/6 above the prevailing English price. Messrs. Guinness have now depressed the price when it is common knowledge that the price payable to the English barley producer will be in the region of 100/- per barrel next year. Messrs. Guinness now depress that price down to 75/-. I am asking the Minister if he sees any reason why the Irish producer of barley should be paid a price considerably less than the price paid to the English producer of barley, having regard to the costs that both producers have to bear.
Mr. Walsh
I see no reason in the world. Deputy Lehane was one of the negotiators for the price and agreed to the price himself.
The Minister has made a statement that I was one of the negotiators of the price. I was not one of the negotiators of the price. There was a deputation from the Beet Growers' Association who met Messrs. Guinness. They agreed to let Messrs. Guinness go back on their contract. The decision of that committee came before a meeting of the Beet Growers' Association, which I opposed tooth and nail, as strongly as I possibly could.
Mr. Walsh
It was the Beet Growers' Association and you are a member of that.
Question No. 115.