asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the importation of Scotch seed oats will be permitted this year; and, if so, on what terms and conditions.

I refer the Deputy to the advertisement which appeared in the daily Press on 12th July last intimating that I would be prepared to issue licences, for the importation of limited quantities of seed oats, to bona-fide seed merchants who applied before 31st August and complied with the requirements specified in the advertisement. All seed merchants who applied in time and who were qualified for consideration have been informed of the maximum quantity in respect of which import licences will be issued to them, subject to the seed imported being of approved quality. Applications will also be considered, as in previous years, from individual growers who desire to import high-class seed oats for sowing on their own lands.

If seed merchants apply now to the Minister for licences, will their applications be considered on their merits?

No.

Might I ask the Minister how were seed merchants to know that there was going to be a shortage of seed oats last August before the crop was gathered?

The wise people did know.

Am I to understand that, now the shortage has become manifest, those who did speculate by applying for licences are going to be allowed to rob the public or are those merchants who want to keep the price at a reasonable figure to be denied the opportunity of getting seed oats?

Perhaps if the Deputy heard the answer to the next question he might not make that statement.

Will all merchants who apply before 31st August get a supply?

Those who are qualified are being dealt with.

What does the Minister mean by being qualified?

Regular importers.

All seed merchants will not get them?

If up to this they were in the habit of importing.

There were no importers for the last four or five years because it was not allowed in.

They were there before that.

If you confine them to the few who were allowed to import during the last few years only a few special people will get them.

No, we will go back before the last four or five years.

There are men who applied and they have not got any at all in County Cavan. I wrote to the Minister and I want to know if he is not going to give certain people licences.

Farmers' applications will be considered.

I am not speaking of farmers' applications, but traders who did not even get a reply to their applications. What is the Minister going to do in their case?

They can get it at home.

They cannot.

I am going to tell you that in another reply.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the fact that there is a serious scarcity of suitable oats for seed, he will consider the granting of further licences for the importation of Scotch seed.

I am not aware that there is a scarcity of suitable oats for seed purposes. On the contrary I am aware that large quantities of seed oats of good quality have been found to be available in various districts. I, therefore, do not propose to make any further provision than has already been made for the importation of seed oats, as to do so would probably result in home producers having stocks left on their hands which they would have to sell at the price of feeding oats.

Is the Minister not aware that, especially in the areas where there is harvesting which are mostly inland, the stock of home-grown oats will not be good as it will not germinate?

That may be true.

Still you want to confine them to that.

Is the Minister aware that if he does not admit a certain proportion of Scotch seed oats this year half the oat crop next harvest will fail?

Quite a lot of imported oats is coming in or has come in.

I do not know who is getting it or who they are, or why there should be a preferred section of the community allowed to bring in oats while other citizens who are paying taxes as well are not allowed.

Importers.