asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries (a) the total gross amount paid to farmers this year in respect of the 1967-68 beet crop, (b) the estimated total gross amount they will receive for the 1968-69 crop, and (c) the total extra ascertained costs involved in the production of the 1968-69 crop as compared with the 1967-68 crop.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beet Crop.
17.
I am informed that the gross amount paid by Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann Teoranta to growers for beet of the 1967 crop was £7,825,602. It is too early to estimate the yield of the 1968 crop and thereby to forecast the gross return which farmers will receive for it. I am informed that detailed figures are not available which would enable the comparison asked for at (c) to be made, but the costs to beet growers of fertilisers, herbicides and seeds are the same as last year.
Is the Minister aware that in present circumstances, due to the interference of another body claiming to represent the farmers, for the coming season the farmers will get cuts of 1/9 per ton, due to a cut in pulp, 1/3 per ton, due to increased freight charges, and 8/9 per ton, due to increased labour costs—a total of 11/9 per ton or £420,000 of a loss in the coming season on their beet crop? Does he intend to do anything in that matter?
I can only accept the figures the Deputy has given me. In so far as the pulp return is concerned, I take it the figure of 1/9 per ton is correct but I am not in a position to say whether it is or not. However, there must be some reduction by virtue of the reduction in the pulp allowance from 1¾ cwt. to 1½ cwt. On the question of freight rates, I have been given to understand that the increase, which may range from 5 per cent in the case of rail freight and up to 10 per cent on road freight, is to be offset by some subsidy or other to be paid for by Comhlucht Siúicre Éireann.
No, Sir; we have to pay 50 per cent of the cost, or 1/3 per ton. In regard to the third one, the amount agreed upon by General Costello, the then manager, and myself, was that on a labour increase of £1 per week, the cost on beet was 8/9 per ton. That is 11/9 the boys who would not know beet from a turnip over there have cost the beet growers this year.
Has this important matter already been raised and discussed at length by the NAC, because the Minister does not seem to be very familiar with it?
I am not concerned with the NAC or the NAB, but I am concerned with my beetgrowers when you pack of "eejits" stuck your noses in.
Have you not two people on it?
More Fianna Fáil ignorance.
You would not know beet from turnips, you idiot.
As I was saying I have no reason to contradict the figures the Deputy has given, but I would point out that the Sugar Company is not within my jurisdiction and I cannot tell what it may or may not do, nor am I consulted on the actions it takes.
I suggest to the Minister that the sooner this matter is raised at government level the better because the beet is not in the factory yet and might never see it.
Was it raised at the NAC? The Minister has not answered Deputy Clinton's question.
Deputy L'Estrange might allow Questions to proceed.
On a point of order, Deputy Corry is a venerable Deputy of this House but he is now being mobilised by the Fianna Fáil Party for the purpose of using filthy language habitually in respect of other Deputies in this House. I have heard him twice use expletives today which do us little credit. I submit respectfully that some regard should be had to the growing practice of Deputy Corry to use filthy expletives in respect of other Deputies in this House and some restraint should be put upon him if we are not all to become disreputable in the eyes of the public.
That comes well from a Deputy who when he was Minister stated that the previous Government had been far too generous with the farming community and he would stand for no increase in the price of beet.
Never. He did more for farmers than any other Minister. He put the farmers on their feet in 1948 with the Agreement he made with Britain.
Their feet were worn down to the knees at that stage.
Question No. 18.
Deputy Dillon mentioned dirty language. I do not think I am getting hard of hearing and I did not hear it.
It is convenient deafness.