asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the fact that home-produced raspberries were left unsold, he will state why permission was given for the importation in 1955 of 712 cwt. of raspberry pulp from the United Kingdom, 1,710 cwt. from the Netherlands and 1,188 cwt. from Canada; whether he is aware that, because of the uneconomic price being paid for Irish raspberries, fruit growers are going out of business, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Importation of Raspberry Pulp.
Licences for the importation of raspberry pulp were not issued until notification was received in my Department from the Irish National Fruit Growers' Association that all home-grown soft fruit available from the 1955 crop had been purchased by the jam manufacturers. The raspberry crop last year was very much below average and import licences were issued for such quantities of raspberry pulp as were needed to meet home requirements until the 1956 crop would become available. Since 1953 prices for soft fruit have been settled by direct negotiation between representatives of the growers' association and the jam manufacturers and I am not aware that growers are going out of the business because of the price agreed upon for raspberries.
Is the Minister aware that, not alone last year but over the last number of years, a much higher price has been paid for foreign pulp than was paid for Irish raspberries? Is he also aware that because the jam manufacturers in this country are controlled by a ring they are preventing the fruit growers from getting a decent price for their crop with the result that those fruit growers are definitely going out of business? Will the Minister consider setting up some machinery by which an official of his Department can assist in the fixing of the price of fruit and so prevent this ring from forcing a very low price on the Irish producers?
I can assure the Deputy that his objectives and mine are substantially identical but handsome is as handsome does. Therefore, I would direct his attention to the fact that the price agreed for raspberries in 1954 was £93 6s. 8d. per ton; the price agreed in 1955 was £98 per ton; the price agreed in 1956 was £107 6s. 8d. per ton—not an inconsiderable contribution towards the expansion of horticultural production in Ireland.
Further arising out of the Minister's reply, is the Minister aware that even this year's price is at least 3d. per lb. under the price which was paid for foreign pulp, even Canadian pulp, for which I presume Canadian dollars had to be made available and on which freight had to be paid?
Frankly I am not so aware, but I do think it is relevant to observe that the prices increased by £14 10s. per ton to the current year. However, I shall look into the matter referred to by the Deputy. I am not aware that more is being paid for foreign pulp. I would ask the Deputy to bear in mind that, whatever is being paid for imported pulp, they are allowed to bring in no pulp until they have purchased all available Irish raspberries at that price.
Further arising out of the Minister's reply——
Question No. 15.