asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that farmers and others are very anxious to procure pure maize meal at an economic price; and whether he will consider the advisability of revoking the Order whereby maize and barley must be mixed in equal quantities by millers, which mixture produces a feed that is neither economical in price nor equal in quality to pure maize meal.

There is no statutory Order in operation requiring millers to mix barley and maize in equal parts. An arrangement was made at the beginning of this year under which purchasers of maize from Grain Importers (Éire) Limited were required to take half of their requirements in the form of barley. These purchasers were, however, free to dispose of maize meal and barley meal separately or as a mixture. The arrangement referred to was discontinued as from 16th August in the Cork area and as from 6th September in other areas and since those dates supplies of maize only have been made available by Grain Importers (Éire) Ltd.