asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will refuse to allow the import of oats while farmers in the oat-growing counties have large quantities of this year's crop on hands.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oats Imports.
12.
I have so far this season refused all applications made to my Department for licences to import feeding or milling oats. Imports of some seed oats will, as usual, be permitted.
There is a demand for good-quality home-grown oats, and growers, in their own interests, should market without undue delay such quantity as they may have for sale.
As I informed Deputy Cosgrave in my reply to his Question last week, this is a matter in which I am entitled to be cautious, which does not mean that I may not have to license imports of oats later on during the year.
I should like to know if the Minister is aware that, according to official figures given to me by the Donegal Chief Agricultural Officer, at the moment 75 per cent. of the Donegal oat crop is on farmers' hands? Furthermore, of this year's oat crop 60 per cent. is of first quality. In view of that will the Minister give very serious consideration to any requests that are made for the importation of feeding oats?
That is exactly what I have been doing, but at the same time there is a tendency in Donegal not to collect oats early in the season and, of course, there are other interests that have to be considered such as the bloodstock breeders and trainers as well as the oatmeal millers. I am naturally obliged to be cautious when dealing with a matter of this nature but at the same time I should like those who have oats for sale to have some regard to the difficulties of other interests and to my difficulties, too, in dealing with them.
If you have good quality oats you can sell them in Kildare.
Let me know who has it. We have plenty of people looking for it.
Question No. 13.
I have supplied a list of business concerns and traders——
It is the answer to Question No. 13 I am looking for.
Yes, Sir.