asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the large acreage of barley sown in the tillage counties in this country this year, he will make a statement on the marketing prospects for both malting and feeding barley this harvest.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Marketing of Barley.
Mr. Walsh
Arrangements have already been made between representatives of the growers and the principal industrial users in regard to the marketing of barley required for . The balance of the barley crop will be used for feeding purposes and, as I have already announced, imports of maize will, if necessary, be restricted to provide a market for all barley produced this year.
Am I to understand from the reply that there will be no fixed price for feeding barley this year as there was last year, that the same scheme will not operate as last year, whereby the millers or merchants were instructed to buy in at 48/- a barrel for the Government?
Mr. Walsh
The Deputy has no right to assume that.
I am asking the Minister if it will obtain.
Mr. Walsh
I have told the Deputy already that if necessary the import of maize will be restricted so that we will provide a market for barley.
Mr. O'Higgins
Will there be a price fixed?
That is what I want to know. I appreciate that the Minister is restricting the imports of maize and that that will create a better demand, but if there is a surplus of barley will there be a fixed price? There are better crops in Wexford than there have been for years and the farmers are anxious to know.
Mr. Walsh
The price of barley is determined by the price we get for pigs, bacon, beef, poultry and so on.
Is the Minister going to pay a fixed price, as was done last year?