asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the fact that Sligo has always been the centre for the annual wool market, at which farmers from both Sligo and North Leitrim attended to sell their wool, arrangements will be made to have the market held in Sligo on 5th July, 1971, its traditional date.
Questions—Ceisteanna. Oral Answers. - Sligo Wool Market.
19.
Under the Wool Marketing Act, 1968, wool may be bought only by buyers registered with my Department and only at premises for which they are so registered. No buyer has so far been registered in respect of premises at the Sligo market, and, therefore, the annual wool market cannot be held there.
A number of buyers have been registered in respect of other premises in the Sligo area.
Does this mean that if a man has his office in a certain town he cannot go to the market house in the county to buy wool? It has been the usual procedure to go to the market house on market days even though the person may have his office ten or 15 miles away in another town. Is a person prohibited from doing this now?
The conditions under which wool may be bought and sold and the regulations regarding the premises in which the transactions may be carried out are laid down in the Wool Marketing Act, 1968. That is the position.
Is the Minister aware that the result will be that there will be utter confusion this year among people concerned in the wool trade?
No, I am not.
Wool markets have been held in towns and villages throughout the country for the last 40 years. It is difficult to get away immediately from old customs. The people may have their premises in their home towns and according to this order they cannot buy at the market house or hold local markets in other areas.
Is the Minister aware that for generations wool has been sold in Sligo town and that the annual market is held there? Last year I raised this matter because many people after travelling for 20 miles found that there was no market. I would suggest to the Minister that Sligo should be made the centre. Those who have authority to buy wool should be asked to arrange this in order to meet the wishes of the farming community who have gone to this market place for many years.
The Deputy is probably aware that for many years the marketing and the presentation for export of our wool has militated against the interests of the wool producers. It is for that reason that the legislation was introduced in 1968. My information is that last year in Sligo, while certain farmers presented wool for sale in the open—which is now not in accordance with the regulations— no buyer attended. While this may be the case, the county of Sligo is adequately catered for in the matter of registered premises where wool may be bought and sold within the regulations.
The Minister has stated that in the past it has militated against the wool producers. Surely the Minister is aware that since this order was introduced in 1968 wool has dropped from 1s 6d to 2s per lb and it is down a further 3p since last year?
I am well aware of the world-wide phenomenon of the competition of synthetic fibres with wool but it has no bearing on the desirability of this country presenting its wool in the best possible way.
Question No. 20.
The Minister should go into a shop and buy an ounce of wool. Wool was 10s a lb. 12 or 14 years ago.
I am calling Question No. 20.
I should like to point out that while Sligo may be adequately looked after it is the centre of sale that the people are interested in. They want to have the centre in Sligo town, not out in a country area.
I have already called Question No. 20.
Does the Chair wish me to answer the supplementary question?
I have already called Question No. 20.
It might be no harm to answer Deputy McLaughlin. He does not ask too many questions in the House.