asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his attention has been drawn to reports regarding the bacon factory of Messrs. Donnelly, Limited at Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
12.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bacon Factories.
11.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what plans he has to deal with the crisis in the bacon industry, with particular reference to keeping Donnelly's bacon factory in production and to safeguarding the jobs of 350 workers.
13.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on the recent closure of two bacon factories; and whether there is any danger of other factories being forced to close.
14.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries (a) the number of pigs killed at bacon factories in 1964, 1965 and 1966; (b) the number killed in January and February, 1966 and January and February, 1967; and if the Government envisage any improvement during the coming year.
15.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the statements regarding pig production made by the Government when the Second Programme for Economic Expansion was published and of the fact that the Second Programme envisaged two million pigs per year, he will state what was done by the Government to put this plan into operation; and the number of pigs being killed in factories at the present.
16.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if his Department have taken any action, or propose to take any action, to encourage pig production and to safeguard the bacon industry.
17.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what plans he has to deal with the serious fall in pig production.
With your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose taking Questions Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 together.
It has already been announced publicly that the factory of Donnelly (Dublin) Ltd., has been acquired by Clover Meats Ltd., and is to continue in production. As regards the other factory mentioned by Deputy O'Donnell, I understand that the new proprietors have not as yet decided on their future policy.
The numbers of pigs killed at bacon factories in 1964, 1965 and 1966 were as follows: 1964, 1,567,000; 1965, 1,797,000; 1966, 1,643,000. The number killed in January and February, 1967 was 233,000 compared with 285,000 in the corresponding month of 1966. It is expected that the present reduced level of pig production will persist for some time yet but an upturn in production is envisaged later in the year. With a view to assisting the bacon curing industry to meet the situation created by the lower level of pig supplies I have reduced from 18/- to 12/- per pig, with effect from 1st April, the levy which curers pay as a contribution towards the cost of supporting pig meat exports.
The means by which it is hoped to achieve the 1970 pig production target include a system of guaranteed minimum prices for good quality pigs, grants for the erection and improvement of piggeries and various breed improvement schemes. Due to these measures the level of pig production in 1965 was, in fact, a post-war record while the 1966 level was the second highest since the war. When it became clear last year that a decline in production was likely the Government announced a new scheme of grants for farrowed sows and the grants for pig rearing and fattening houses were increased.
Since last summer the prices paid by the bacon factories have been substantially higher than the guaranteed minimum prices and this should provide a further stimulus to increased pig production. I am, however, keeping the pig supply situation under continuous review with a view to taking such further measures as may be appropriate to achieve an increased level of production.
Is the Minister aware that the Second Programme for Economic Expansion envisaged something over two million pigs and that our bacon factories are geared to deal with that number of pigs? At present there are only 24,000 pigs per week going to the factories. Does the Minister not agree that a crisis faces the bacon industry and that something will have to be done to remedy the situation? Does he not consider that the greatest help he could give the small farmers at the present time is to subsidise the price of meal.
As I have said, this matter is under continuous review. Matters such as that mentioned by Deputy L'Estrange are under consideration, together with the overall situation, and the House can rest assured that all measures open to us to arrest any decline that may be taking place are being pursued and will be pursued further.
When the Minister mentions these inducements which he intends to provide during the coming year, including a guaranteed price for pig quality, does he mean an increased guaranteed price?
We shall have to wait and see the answer to that one.
It is not new unless it is a new price.
I am re-stating the situation.
Does the Minister not agree that we will have to increase the price of pigs and reduce the price of foodstuffs, if we are to increase production?
Would the Minister consider that traditionally our people in the west of Ireland are dependent, to a large extent, on pig production? Would he not make a statement on the position as regards bacon factories in the west of Ireland and also what their position would be if they are threatened with closure in the west of Ireland?
That is not——
I should like to ask the Minister two questions. If the situation in the west of Ireland should deteriorate, would he consider, by way of transport subsidy, equalisation of bacon prices — produced in western factories — with that of bacon produced in factories more accessible to export points? Secondly, does he appreciate, when he gives us the figures of 1.567 million, 1.797 million and 1.643 million of pigs passing through bacon factories, that those figures are arrived at after having virtually eliminated pork exports which did constitute in the past a very valuable export over and above the volume of pork delivered to the bacon factories?
The first matter raised by the Deputy has been looked at and will continue to be looked at if circumstances should arise which would dictate that something of this nature was required. In so far as pork killings are concerned, it is true that to some degree, the export of pork to a reasonably profitable market has been curtailed in order that we should go as near as possible to filling our quality bacon export quota. That is the actual situation at the moment.
Could the Minister say if a survey has ever been made by his Department as to why pig production has been reduced by half since 1930 in the west of Ireland?
Since 1930? Because live pig exports have been abolished.
I could not tell the Deputy whether there is such a survey; I could not answer that.
Is it not the explanation that prior to 1930, we exported large numbers of live pigs?
Why should that make a difference?
Because we did export live pigs ourselves and sent bacon to the factories.