asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that the average price charged by Dublin retailers for a stone of home-grown baking apples is 3/-, and if he is aware that the growers cannot obtain a fourth of this price in the market; and if in view of the disparity between the retail price and that paid to the growers he will have the matter referred to the Prices Commission with a view to the fixing of a retail price.

As the Deputy is aware, a tribunal has been established to inquire, inter alia, into the marketing of fruit and vegetables. I am of opinion that it would be inadvisable to discuss the question of prices being charged for home-grown apples by retailers as compared with the prices paid to growers until the tribunal has published its report.