asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will equate the price of feeding barley to the amount fixed by the EEC group.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Feeding Barley.
16.
In determining the minimum price for feeding barley in this country we have to take account of our own particular circumstances.
Incidentally, I understand that the Council of Ministers of the EEC has not so far settled a common price for feeding barley.
Is the Minister aware that the European price is considerably above the price fixed by his colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, the other day?
According to the information I have, the European price will not be fixed by EEC countries until on or after 15th April.
If I tell the Minister that the price fixed by the European Economic Community is 45/- a barrel, will he reconsider the question of fixing the price in this country at that level?
The circumstances here are quite different and the Deputy got full particulars in a previous Parliamentary Question which he tabled to the Minister concerned. The Deputy's question is related to the price to be fixed this year by the EEC countries and that has not yet been fixed. For comparative purposes, he can repeat the question when the European price is fixed by the 15th April.
I wish to point out to the Minister that his information is incorrect and that the price has been agreed on already. In the light of that information, would the Minister represent to his colleague that he should fix the price at the same level in Ireland because I can see no reason why we should be below the common European price?
I prefer to accept the official information I have from the Department of Agriculture, to the effect that this price has not been fixed, rather than rely on the Deputy's information.
Perhaps the Department did not know about it.