asked the Minister for Agriculture whether his attention has been directed to the disastrous price payable for turkeys; and whether there is any prospect of an improvement in the market.

33.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will take steps to ensure the payment of a minimum price of 3/- per pound for hen turkeys and 2/6d. per pound for cock turkeys, so that producers may get a fair return.

I propose, with your permission, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, to reply to Questions No. 32 and No. 33 together.

Prices ruling on the British market —to which most of our turkeys are exported—have been appreciably lower than last year.

Present market opinion in Britain is that there is a prospect of a somewhat firmer trend in prices during the coming week. It is also hoped that more active purchases of turkeys for the home market from now on will be beneficial to producers. These are market opinions, and one cannot naturally speak with certainty.

As the greater part of our turkey output is exported it would not be practicable to fix minimum prices for producers. The prices paid for turkeys at markets in Britain and this country have since 1st December been published daily in Press and radio bulletins issued by my Department.

Does the Minister consider that 1/4 a lb. paid for turkeys in the markets of West Cork is a reasonable price?

That is not just the question I was asked.