asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that notwithstanding an advertisement published in the Press by the Pigs Marketing Board, which stated that bacon pigs would be taken at various centres, including Cork, up to Tuesday, 21st December, two pig producers who took pigs to Cork that day, having tried the various factories accompanied by a representative of the Pigs Marketing Board, could not get rid of their pigs except at a reduction in price of 10/- per pig; and if he will state what action he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of such loss and hardship on pig producers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Operations of Pigs Marketing Board.
As already stated on more than one occasion, I am not prepared to discuss the operations of either the Pigs Marketing Board or the Bacon Marketing Board by way of question and answer in this House. In the present instance any representations which the Deputy wishes to make should be addressed to the Pigs Marketing Board.
Is it not clear that this question has nothing to do with the operations of the Pigs Marketing Board, but that it raises the hardship under which an individual citizen has suffered as a result of the refusal of bacon manufacturers to take his pigs?
Does it not arise out of an advertisement issued by the Pigs Marketing Board? Has it not got everything to do with it?
Does it not arise out of a statement made by the Minister in this House yesterday that, as a result of his policy, any person who had a pig for sale had an assured market with the licensed curers? That is the policy of the Government, and, acting on that policy, a citizen went to several curers, accompanied by a knowledgeable person, and was turned out by all the curers.
As alleged.
As alleged, and he makes that allegation to the Minister to which the Minister replies: "I will not investigate his complaint."
Let him write to the Pigs Marketing Board.
The submission is that this man does not want to put his destinies in the hands of the Pigs Marketing Board. He claims the protection of the Minister for Agriculture, who is implementing that policy. The Minister says that his pig and bacon policy provides that any person who has a pig for sale has a guaranteed market with the licensed curers. This citizen sought that guaranteed market and this citizen failed to get it. He now applies for protection to the Minister, and the Minister says that he will not give it, and that he will not discuss his case or examine his grievance.
Is this a question or a speech?
I ask the Minister now: Will he examine this man's grievance and call these licensed curers who hold licences from him to account for having refused these pigs?
Let him write to the Pigs Marketing Board.
If he writes to the Minister, will the Minister call these licensees to account for having refused these pigs?
Let him write to the Pigs Marketing Board.
So that we have not got a guaranteed market with the licensed curers.
That is, if the Deputy believes the allegation to be true.
I do.
Well, I do not.
If proof is submitted to the Minister, will he investigate it?
Let the Pigs Marketing Board investigate it first.
Can the Minister explain why it is an important bacon curer in Limerick had to refuse a large number of pigs the other day and, in such circumstances, can he say what that producer is going to do with his pigs?
I should like the Pigs Marketing Board to investigate that, too.
That is a separate question.