asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is yet in a position to announce an increase in the guaranteed price of pigs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Pigs.
16.
I would refer the Deputy to yesterday's Budget Statement.
Does the Minister consider that the increase announced in the Budget yesterday compensates pig producers for the increased cost of feeding stuffs?
In fact, I will go much further and say that it is more than compensation for the increased price of feeding stuffs.
The Minister knows nobody is prepared to agree with that and that it would require 32/- per cwt.
Fine Gael will never agree with anyone telling the truth.
Surely the Minister is aware the farmers' organisations looked for an increase of 32/- per cwt. and proved it would take that to cover the cost of production?
Would the Deputy ever inform us what would that mean the top price should be?
You should know. Another 20/- on what you gave yesterday.
What would that bring it to?
You make it up.
(Interruptions.)
I asked the Minister a question.
You did not. You told me something.
You are there for answering questions.
I have other functions as well as answering questions.
Not at all.
Why do you not admit you do not even know the price of pork at the moment?
It is your duty to answer questions.
If you ask a silly question, you know what you will get.
He does not have to ask a silly question to get a silly answer.
That was the case when the Deputy was Minister for Agriculture and could not be otherwise. Whether the question was silly or not, there was always a silly answer.