asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is yet in a position to give reliable advance information as to what price producers may expect to receive for their turkeys during the Christmas marketing season this year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Turkeys.
5.
It is not possible to forecast the prices which producers here may expect to receive for their turkeys during the Christmas season, but, as from an early date, we propose to issue daily market reports through radio and the Press for the guidance of turkey producers.
Could the Minister give us any closer definition of "an early date"? There is very real and genuine anxiety among producers in the west and south of Ireland as to what sort of price they may reasonably expect. There is a grave danger of countrywomen being seriously prejudiced if they have not some guidance at the time the turkey markets are open.
I informed the Deputy yesterday of the setting-up of a body which is responsible for making available this information. I do not think that even that body could have very much guidance from the market so far. When I say "an early date", I expect that the body so charged will be conscious of the importance of making available as soon as possible whatever information they may have and as often as they feel it necessary to do so.
Is the Minister aware that we have the great difficulty of holding back turkeys unduly, whereas if the heavier birds were marketed earlier in the season, in time for the hotel and catering trades, they could make a better price? In the absence of any guidance, there is a strong tendency among the people to hold back the turkeys. Perhaps the Minister would consider bringing the attention of the authority to which he refers to the fact that some early guidance will facilitate the earlier marketing of at least the heavier birds?
The Deputy will appreciate, as I do, the difficulty of giving reliable advice on that matter. We are all conscious of the tendency to which the Deputy refers. In one year, it might mean holding the birds unduly long but in another year the tendency might be to become panicky. From the information I have been able to gather, I do not think it would be possible for this body to give the sort of long-distance information indicated by the Deputy. That would be very desirable but it would be very difficult to give it in a reliable way. The body to which I have referred is charged with the responsibility of giving all the information they possess and can procure as quickly as possible and as often as they think it desirable.