asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what is the price to be paid for feeding barley of the 1953 crop.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Feeding Barley Price.
The price to be paid for feeding barley of the 1953 crop will depend on the prices prevailing or likely to prevail for live-stock and live-stock products, when the crop is marketed. As I have already announced, it is proposed to restrict imports of maize to provide a market for all the feeding barley of the 1953 crop.
Does the Minister not propose to fix a price for feeding barley?
I think that is a separate question.
Wait a moment. Here is the question—"To ask the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what is the price to be paid for feeding barley of the 1953 crop." In view of the fact that for three years the Minister had hysterics in these benches because that announcement was not made by me in the November prior to the harvest every year, surely now that we are approaching the month of March he will be prepared to announce it in respect of the barley crop for this year? Or does he take the heretical stand that he does not intend to fix a price?
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that Deputy Dillon when Minister for Agriculture fixed that price at 32/- a barrel for home grown feeding barley?
What price is the Minister going to fix now—is it even 32 pence?
They had to send him to America to allow the farmers to sell their potatoes and oats.