asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will state the prices for the 1972 grain crop.

36.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will state the price for this year's grain crops; and the reasons for the delay in announcing it.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 36 together.

As I announced yesterday, 14th March, 1972, the basic 1972 price for wheat and the marketing arrangements will be the same as in 1971. The floor price of feeding barley of the 1972 crop will be £27.50 per ton, that is, an increase of £1 per ton over the 1971 price.

What is the reason for the delay in announcing it? Surely the Minister is aware those prices should be announced, at the latest, by the end of December? Was there not an assurance given in this House a few years ago by the then Minister, Deputy Blaney, that that would happen, so that farmers could plan ahead?

In this particular year the matter had to be considered in the light of EEC conditions.

The Parliamentary Secretary knew the EEC conditions in December. He cannot blame the EEC for everything.

We are not blaming it at all.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say what precise difference EEC conditions would make to the 1972 grain crop?

It would affect the marketing of stocks which would be held on the date of accession to the EEC, 1st February, 1973.

Where did the Parliamentary Secretary make the announcement yesterday.

There was a Press release.

Could it not wait until today? He would not give anyone in the Opposition the satisfaction of having dragged the answer out of him.

On a fine day the farmers would like to be out ploughing and getting on with their work.

Then he should have given them the information last December.