asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether applications have been received this season from brewers, maltsters or distillers for the importation of (a) malting barley and (b) barley for roasting purposes, and, if so, if he will state, in each case, the price of such barley delivered.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Importation of Barley.
Applications have recently been received for licences to import malting barley and barley for roasting purposes. I am not in a position to state the price at which barley has been or may be purchased for importation.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the percentage of our total malting barley requirements which will have to be imported this year.
Precise information as to the total quantity of malting barley which brewers and others will require this year is not available in my Department.
Is the Minister aware that two years ago a number of our prominent distilleries reduced their contract with the farmers for the growing of malting barley and that the contract has not been increased in the last two years, and would he, in view of that, make sure that there is a substantial contract placed next year with the farmers instead of importing what could be grown easily here in Ireland?
Sin ceist eile.
Well, it is too bad if the distillers are going to get away with it.
That is a separate question.
If the Deputy wants information on that point and if he puts down a question I will answer it but he has not put down that question.
Is the Minister aware that the contract has been bad for the last two years and that that is the reason why a number of farmers —in County Roscommon for instance— have changed over to the growing of wheat with the result that we now have to import barley?
Is the Minister aware that there has been no malting barley imported for the past two years until this year?
I suggest the Deputies fight it out between themselves.