asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that potatoes for export which have been checked and sealed by his Department's inspectors at farmers' premises are again opened and checked and in some cases dumped for regarding at Derry port prior to shipment; and, if so, if he will take steps to stop this practice.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sealed Potato Exports.
Mr. Walsh
It has long been the practice to examine potatoes at the port of despatch. A check of this sort is necessary to ensure that the potatoes have not deteriorated in the interval between examination at the farmers' or merchants' premises and the date of shipment or have not been damaged in transit. I am not prepared to alter the procedure.
Is the Minister aware that when potatoes are dumped for one reason or another at the port, farmers or their workers are not allowed to go in there to regrade them and that thereby considerable expense is incurred by the farmers?
Mr. Walsh
I am not aware of that.