asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the onion producers of the Castlegregory district, County Kerry, are finding it impossible to secure a market for their crops; and, if so, if he will make arrangements to facilitate these producers to dispose of their crops.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Market for Onions.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware thatthe people of Connemara, who are endeavouring to make a living under the Government-sponsored glass-house scheme for the Gaeltacht areas, are experiencing great difficulty in disposing at an economic price of their onion crop which was grown on the advice of the officials of his Department who recommended about a year ago that onions should be grown as well as tomatoes; and, if so, whether he will take steps either to provide a market for the crop or to compensate the growers for the losses incurred.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 43 and 44 together.
The importation of onions has been prohibited since 1st August last, and it is not my intention to allow further imports until home growers shall have had a reasonable opportunity of disposing of their crop. There is, accordingly, an assured market for onions which have been properly harvested and stored.
Is the Minister aware that in the Kerry growing area there are 2,500 tons of home-grown onions and so far this year only between 200 and 300 tons have been marketed? There is a danger of the whole crop going bad if a market is not found as soon as possible.
Mr. Walsh
As I have told the Deputy, there is no intention of permitting the import of onions until the home supply is cleared. There has been no importation since the 1st August.
The market is on since last August. The Minister allowed a cargo of 61,000 cwt. in last August which has greatly affected the home market.
Mr. Walsh
They had reached the port before the 1st August.
We imported 38,000 cwt. more than the previous year.
Mr. Walsh
There were less onions imported in 1953 than in 1952.
If the acting-Minister for Finance does not drown the British with eggs the people of Kerry will drown the Minister for Agriculture with onions.
It is better to drown the British with eggs than to let the British drown us with onions.
If you had your way there would be no point in growing onions at all. They would have gone up the spout like the wheat and the beet.
They were up the spout before I had to deal with them.
Would Deputies allow the questions to proceed?
Is the Minister prepared to do as asked in the latter part of the question—to provide facilities for producers to dispose of their crops?
Mr. Walsh
I do not understand what the Deputy means. The market is open. We have prohibited the import of onions and it is now up to the people to market their own.
Is the Minister aware that growers in the Kerry area have been in correspondence with Dublin, that a merchant in Dublin ordered four or five tons last week and a few days later cancelled the order, saying there were plenty of Spanish onions on the market at the moment? Was the Minister sitting down on the job in allowing them in last July and August?
Mr. Walsh
The Minister has told the Deputy that no onions were imported since August. The Minister now tells the Deputy that there were less onions imported this year than last year.
In 1952 we imported 13,000 cwt. in May, 8,000 in June and 30,000 in July. In 1953, we imported 11,000 in May, 17,000 in June and 61,000 in July.
Mr. Walsh
In 1952, we imported 99,279 cwt. In 1953, it was 99,066.
A difference of 213.
The figures I gave were given to Deputy Finucane by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Taoiseach on the 11th November.