asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether it is the Government's intention to ensure that when industry is based for its raw material on indigenous agricultural or other products, steps will be taken to ensure that a fair price will be paid to the producer while at the same time ensuring that Irish industries will not be closed down owing to the higher prices offered by British and Continental buyers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prices of Industrial Raw Materials.
44.
If the Deputy's question, insofar as it relates to agricultural products, is whether it is the intention to fix maximum prices for the products of Irish farmers, the answer is in the negative. I am not clear what other indigenous products the Deputy has in mind.
Does it mean, therefore, that some factories will have to close down due to their inability to compete in price with Continental and British traders because they have to pay such high prices for cattle?
As the House is aware, the Minister for Agriculture has already made a full statement on that.
He has done no such thing. That was one of the secrets he did not tell us.