asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on the consequences of recent increases in fertiliser prices.

41.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on the consequences of the recent increases in farm machinery costs.

42.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on what he considers to be the consequences of the recent increases in farm building costs.

With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 41 and 42 together.

These cost increases cannot be isolated from general cost and price increases in this and other countries. They are unlikely to curb seriously the trend towards increasing farm capitalisation but would, of course, affect farmers' income. To compensate for the current cost increases I am pressing for realistic improvements in EEC prices for agricultural produce.

In regard to Question No. 41, is the Minister aware of the fantastic increases that have taken place in this field and of the problem with regard to the availability of machinery and spare parts at this time?

Over 90 per cent of farm machinery used in this country is imported assembled and mainly from the UK, the Continent and the USA. Only small items such as spreaders, trailers, and cabs are manufactured here. Prices of all farm machinery, especially imported items, have been increasing progressively since March, 1973. In that period increases have averaged 20 per cent on tractors, 15 per cent on combine harvesters and 25 per cent on other equipment. In these categories there has been a wide range of price increases ranging from 15 per cent for English products to 30 per cent for continental products.

Would the Minister be able to assure us, as we are discussing farm machinery, that there will be a sufficient supply of diesel oil available to get these expensive pieces of machinery into operation this spring?

I will do everything I can.

Is the Minister aware of the seriousness of exporting urea as has been reported in the newspapers? This could be very serious later in the year and will probably lead to a scarcity of nitrogenous fertilisers.

I am not aware of the scarcity.

Is it not time to stop this export?

We have no power to stop exports within the EEC.

Does the Minister anticipate any fall off in the sale of fertilisers this year?

No, I imagine the farmers are too sensible to reduce the amount they use.

That is a silly answer.

It was a silly question coming from an experienced man.

Has the Minister any comment to make on the many allegations made regarding the stockpiling of fertilisers until such time as the recent price increases were announced?

I have had investigations made and I can get no proof of this allegation.

Am I right in assuming from what the Minister has just stated that he and his Department are satisfied that there has not been any stockpiling of fertilisers until the recent price increases were announced?

That is what I am told.

That is what the Minister believes?

Yes. We received figures from NET to prove that their deliveries have been greater than last year.

Not one farmer would believe the Minister.

Will the Minister circulate the figures?

It will be no trouble. If the Deputies have any specific complaint to make they should make it to me.

If the Minister wants factual evidence of this his colleague who is sitting behind him has already been told by the Cork County Committee of Agriculture what the situation is.

Cork County Committee of Agriculture last week were informed that there was stuff dumped on the Western Road. That stuff was there and we did not dump it.

Have the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries available the stock figures held by the fertiliser manufacturers and distributors?

There is nothing in the question about quantities; the question is about prices.

The Minister has made a statement to the effect that there was no stockpiling. The Minister is letting the small farmers down.

Deputies are becoming particularly unruly and should behave themselves. I ask the Deputies to restrain themselves to allow us to make some progress.

I wish to give notice that it is my intention to raise this Question, No. 40, on the Adjournment.

The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.

I wish to give notice that it is my intention to raise the subject matter of Question No. 41 on the Adjournment.