asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that a number of hatcheries which formerly operated in the State have moved their activities to Northern Ireland, owing to the fact that adaptation and other grants which were not made available to them here are made available to them in Northern Ireland; and if he will reconsider the question of grants to hatcheries generally.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants to Hatcheries.
14.
Mr. Barrett
The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, since the total hatchery capacity available here is well in excess of the actual requirements, the provision of hatchery grants would not be warranted.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that for two years we drew attention to the fact that if there was not a tax relief for hatcheries, they would leave the country and that one such hatchery, which was exporting £300,000 of chicks annually, did leave? We lost that industry through our own fault.
I do not accept that.
You cannot deny it.