asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will give details of requests during the past two years from farming organisations and commodity committees thereof for meetings with his Department, stating in the case of each request (a) the name of the organisation concerned, (b) the subjects proposed for discussion, (c) if the request was granted and (d) his reasons for refusing in each case where this occurred.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meetings with Farming Organisations.
26.
During the period in question a considerable number of requests for meetings with my Department were received from a wide range of farming organisations. The requests were either granted or dealt with in correspondence where meetings were not considered necessary. The detailed information sought by the Deputy in regard to these requests is not such as I feel it would be proper for me to disclose without the authority of the many organisations concerned.
Why?
Your guess is as good as mine. There are many reasons.
Surely when the Minister refused a request, his reasons should be given public notice? The reason why I ask this question is to find out why the Minister refused to meet farmers' organisations on many occasions.
How many occasions?
That is what I wish to know. That is why I am asking the question.
The Irish Fresh Meat Exporters' Society, the NFA and the ICMSA——
That is a separate question.
Will the Minister not meet them?
I will consider it very favourably.
The Minister has refused to meet them on at least six occasions in the past six months.
The Deputy is talking through his hat.
Because the General Council of the County Committees of Agriculture represent the only statutory body to deal with agriculture, will he not undertake to attend the annual general meeting of that body?
That is a separate question.
When does the Minister intend to meet the NFA? He assured them in August that he would do so but he had not met them by the end of the autumn.
This does not arise. Will the Deputy resume his seat?
Question No. 27 postponed.