asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that there is no market at present available for hides; and, if so, if he will state what proposals he has in mind to rectify the position.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Market in Hides.
The steps necessary to resolve the difficulties which have arisen regarding the disposal of hides have been under consideration for some time. Certain steps designed to ease the position have already been taken, and it is proposed to discuss with representatives of the trade at an early date the further steps which would be necessary to ensure an early resumption of the normal full movement of hides.
Mr. Murphy
Can the Minister say when these negotiations will take place, as a number of butchers and hide merchants are very seriously perturbed at not being able to dispose of the hides, particularly since, so far as my information goes, we recently imported a number of hides, although there were plenty of hides lying around in butchers' stores all over the place?
As I have told the Deputy, the question is being pursued actively at the moment. One of the difficulties about the hides is that a lot of Irish hides are full of holes made by warble flies which Deputy Dillon kept as pets.
Mr. Murphy
Can the Minister say when the people are likely to be able to sell these hides?
I cannot give the Deputy any further information.
Will the Minister undertake to consult with the Minister for Agriculture in this connection and will he ask the Minister for Agriculture whether he endorses the scandalous allegation just made by the acting-Minister for Industry and Commerce, that the difficulty arose in connection with warble fly? There is not a scintilla of truth in that.
Deputy Dillon was trying to keep all the warble flies as pets.
That is a scandalous thing for the Minister to say.
They are scandalous hides, if the Deputy saw them.
Look at the Minister for Agriculture, like a dummy, afraid to say a word.
Deputy Dillon is not ashamed to tell an untruth.
It is a blooming fraud.