asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that, owing to the refusal of Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann to negotiate with the Irish Sugar Beet Growers' Association on price and conditions for next season's beet crop, growers of beet for the coming season will suffer cuts of 1/9d per ton following a contract cut in pulp ration of a quarter cwt per ton, plus 8/9d per ton owing to the increase of £1 a week on agricultural wages; and that they are now faced with an increase of ten per cent in CIE freight charges involving a further 1/3d per ton, making in all a cut of 11/9d per ton or a total loss of revenue to beet growers of £548,000; and if intends to take any action in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Beet.
11.
The prices and contract conditions offered to growers for the sugar beet crop are matters for Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teoranta and I do not propose to intervene. My information is that growers have sought contracts for 1968 beet acreages in excess of what the company is in a position to allocate.
This is a State subsidised company or a semi-State body, and does the Parliamentary Secretary think it right that tillage farmers, when the price of everything else is going up, should have their prices cut by over £500,000 due to the interference of a couple of ranchers from the midland counties?
I do not accept the Deputy's inference that the beet growers are going to suffer a loss of £500,000.
I hope to give the Minister a better opportunity of looking into his figures as I intend to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.