asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the Potato Marketing Board receives a State grant, and, if so, if he will state (a) the amount of the grant and (b) how many persons are employed by the board.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Potato Marketing Board.
The Irish Potato Marketing Company does not receive a State grant.
Could the Minister indicate how the Irish Potato Marketing Board is financed? Is it by a levy on imports?
When this company was set up, as far as I know, there was in existence at the time what was known then as the Irish Potato Marketing Association. That association apparently had some £60,000 and on the formation of the Irish Potato Marketing Company that sum was transferred to the new company. That is where they began and apparently they managed their business in their own way after that.
Could the Minister indicate whether they have reached nearly the end of that sum, and if they have reached that point, whether it is proposed to give them a State grant or to let them go into liquidation?
If other parliamentary questions occur to the Deputy's mind in the course of my giving him a reply to the one he has on the paper, there is another day coming.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the names of members of the Potato Marketing Board; and whether it is mandatory on them to hold meetings, and, if so, how often.
The members of the board of the Irish Potato Marketing Company are:—Edward McGivern (chairman), James Brannigan, Richard Barrett, Michael Clarke, Martin Cooke, John Corkery, Thomas Glynn, Charles Gold, Michael Grant, Robert Patton, Michael Sheehan, Jas. J. Stafford.
Under the Articles of Association of the company the directors may meet together for the despatch of business as they think fit but a general meeting of the company must be held once, at least, in every calendar year.