asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the number of non-farmer speculators taking large acreages of conacre for the growing of wheat, he will, in order to assist the economy of small farmers, consider a two-tier price for wheat on the same lines as the two-tier price on milk.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Wheat.
21.
Different methods of implementing price support for wheat, including the two-tier price system suggested by the Deputy——
(Interruptions.)
——have been considered——
(Interruptions.)
——by my Department over recent years.
(Interruptions.)
Order. Will Deputy Dunne please cease interrupting?
I am not satisfied that any of these offers a practicable alternative to the present levy system.
I wonder if we might trouble the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries to let us hear that answer because his voice was not quite audible?
It certainly was not the fault of my voice.
I was not reflecting on the Minister's voice.
Different methods of implementing price support for wheat, including the two-tier price system suggested by the Deputy, have been considered by my Department over recent years. I am not satisfied that any of these offers a practicable alternative to the present levy system.
The Minister is aware that some individuals are landing in as much as 2,000 tons of wheat to the mill?
Hear, hear.
It is time that kind of thing was stopped.
I would love to be able to stop it.
Hear, hear. Great is the conversion. I am surprised the Tánaiste has not had an apoplectic fit.
You wanted it to go up the spout, did you not?
Do you remember the days when your heart bled for the wheat rancher?