asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what factors are taken into consideration in the allocation of contracts to beet and potato growers; and whether such persons must necessarily be engaged solely in agriculture.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beet and Potato Contracts.
21.
The basis on which such contracts are allocated is a matter for commercial firms who make their own arrangements with growers.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether those people engaged in agriculture will have first preference in respect of contracts?
Certainly, as people engaged in agriculture they will get first consideration. That has been the policy up to now.
Can I take it, then, that any farmer will get a beet or potato contract in preference to anyone not engaged directly on agriculture but who may be, for instance, an employee of the Sugar Company?
Certainly the farmers will get it but the Deputy will understand that the potato contract was not fully taken up last year by the farmers and so other people got contracts.
I am not disputing that.
Question No. 22 postponed.