asked the Minister for Agriculture if in regard to the dispute between the cattle exporters and the co-operative marts he has anything to add to the statement made by him on the 26th November, 1959.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Exporters and Co-operative Marts.
28.
The immediate and most important aspect of this matter is to ensure the free movement of livestock. My statement, published last Tuesday after consultation with the interests mainly concerned, does, I hope, make the position in regard to the handling and shipping of cattle clear and secure.
The difficulties which led to my statement had their origin in the dispute between marts and fairs, and I would express the hope that this dispute will be solved peacefully on the basis of the principle, to which I referred last week, of the individual's right to buy and sell cattle as he pleases.
Will the Minister not consider inviting the parties to this dispute to come to his Department for the purpose of a round-table discussion and to hear his views verbally expressed?
As I said on the last occasion when this question was raised in the House I have been considering every aspect of this matter including the one mentioned now and also mentioned previously. There is nothing to prevent my taking any course that I think will be of assistance or make any contribution towards achieving what I am sure we all have in mind.
Seeing that the Minister has intervened with good effect in connection with the incidents associated with the Dublin market on a recent occasion, would he not deem it proper to intervene in regard to the basic cause of the dispute between the cattle exporters and the co-operative marts? Does he not realise that the longer the cold war goes on between these disputants the more difficult it will be to effect any working arrangement? Further, does the Minister not now see that neither party to the dispute can very well risk rejection of an invitation to a conference at the instance of the Minister or of his advisers in his Department?
I am not in any way hesitant because of the possibility of receiving a rebuff should I take any step to secure the objective which I feel we all have in mind, but at the same time I am in possession of quite a lot of knowledge about this matter and I regard the origin of the dispute as not compatible with the matter to which I replied in the first part of my answer. I can only say again that it is not because of any fear on my part that I might receive a rebuff or that I might fail that I have not taken such a step, but naturally one has to use one's judgment in a delicate matter like this and I can only say again that if I see the slightest chance of intervening with a reasonable hope of success I shall not hesitate to do so.