asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if in the case of the six nominations to the agricultural council at his disposal, where representatives of known organisations are to be selected, he will ask these organisations to nominate their representatives.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Nominations to Agricultural Council.
9.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply on 15th February to questions put down by Deputies Flanagan and Clinton regarding membership of the National Agricultural Council. There are, as I stated, over 100 farming organisations in the country, and a number of important sectors such as sheep breeding, pig breeding, horticultural production and the production of liquid milk are each catered for by a number of different organisations; in one case there are some 12 different bodies. It would not, therefore, be feasible to select one of these organisations and invite it to nominate a representative on its own behalf and on behalf of other organisations in the same field. However, as I stated in my reply to Deputies Flanagan and Clinton, I should not like to think that membership of the Council was settled for all time on its inauguration and I would hope that arrangements would be sufficiently flexible to enable membership to reflect changes which might from time to time occur in the organisational structure of farming bodies.
Does the Minister agree that since the date on which he gave the answers referred to, there has been a change inasmuch as it is likely now that the appointed representatives who already know they are on the council may not attend at all? An offer could be made now to the people in conflict with the Minister if he would at this stage say that where a representative of a known organisation wishes to take his place on the Agricultural Council, he would leave the selection of that representative to the organisation itself rather than, as Minister for Agriculture, picking that man, seeing that there will be some suspicion if he picks him himself. That would not mean that he would have to do that in all six cases, but if he would allow the organisation to select the man themselves, that might mean that his council would be able to get off the ground and the people concerned in the present unharmonious relations with one organisation in the country would be given an opportunity to come together and make peace.
It all sounds so terribly simple but the House must realise that if it were so simple, that is the way it would have been done. What I intend to do by way of nomination is not to nominate people because they belong to some organisation not yet invited, but to select people to represent particular sectors of the agricultural community not already nominated by the bodies who have been asked to nominate.
The Minister will no doubt agree that I have not been either vindictive or disruptive in my supplementary. I am asking him to leave it to the known organisation representing a particular sector to select the person. It is a simple matter and it can be done.
Still trying to keep it on a harmonious plane, the Deputy and I differ.
I am trying to differ harmoniously, to help things.
I appreciate it very much and I am sure the Deputy will appreciate also that his statement of what the situation may be in regard to selection may not in fact arise at all because, I repeat, people or members of any particular organisation——
Members of the Fianna Fáil Party.
May I finish? They are being selected not because they belong to organisations but because they represent and have a special knowledge of a particular section or sector of agriculture that will not already have representation through those nominated by the bodies concerned.
Could the Minister give an example? If, perchance, the Minister in the operation of his duties decides that the Leinster Milk Producers Association should have a representative, should that body not be allowed to pick a representative?
They have.
Why should the Minister not pick me? I am a member.
There is no danger. The Deputy is a Member of the House and there will not be any of those.
(Cavan): In his original reply, the Minister referred to sheep breeding. Is he aware that associations of mountain sheep farmers, particularly in the West and in the Minister's area, are deeply interested in getting representation on the Council and will the Minister take steps to ensure that these sheep farmers are represented through their organisation?
The Deputy put his finger right down on a very outstanding case where, to my knowledge—I do not presume to have all the knowledge necessary—there are in this country 12 separate sheep farmer organisations. It is because of this that I did not find it possible to say to any of the 12 organisations: "You represent the sheep farmers; you nominate a member representing sheep breeders, sheep rearers, sheep farmers." If we got one of the 12 organisations to nominate, what about the other 11?
(Cavan): I see the Minister's difficulty but I understand they are coming together——
That is another matter.
(Cavan): Will the Minister accept——
It is quite another matter if they federate in a national organisation.