§ MR. BARRIE (Londonderry, N.)I beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether compensation has now been paid, as promised, to farmers who were in error supplied by the Department with unsuitable seed last season; and, if not, will he state what has caused the delay in making these payments, and will he hasten them.
§ THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR IRELAND (Mr. T. W. RUSSELL,) Tyrone, S.Considerations involving legal questions have caused delay. I hope payable orders may be issued to-day.
§ MR. BARRIEI beg to ask the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), what is the total amount of the claims for loss sustained through the supplying of unsuitable seed by the Department to Irish farmers; whether the full amount has been recovered from the foreign firm who supplied the faulty seed in breach of warranty; and whether, to protect seedsmen and farmers in making purchases this season, he will give the name of the firm in question.
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLGrowers have asked £20 per bag. There were about fifty bags; no part of this has as yet been recovered from the foreign firm who supplied the seed. The firm in question is a respectable and reputable one, and I do not think any good purpose would be served by publishing the name.
§ MR. BARRIEIs it not the case that the purchase of see I by the Department from this firm led to farmers buying 755 privately from it and thus incurring loss?
§ * MR. SPEAKERNotice should be given of that.
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)Was the purchase made from a Scottish firm?
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELLIt is not a Scottish firm. I am satisfied that the whole thing is the result of a mistake and the loss will be made good. We shall do our best to prevent a repetition.