§ Mr. O'MALLEYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the decision of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction in Ireland that the tenants of Connemara will only be supplied with seed potatoes known as Up-to-Date, although both the Clifden and Oughterard Unions have declared that this Up-to-Date seed is altogether unsuitable, to their districts, will be reconsidered; and whether steps will be at once taken to supply these unions with the seed potatoes that they require?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Department of Agriculture were required to provide general supplies of seed for an emergency. They inform me that it would be impossible for them to secure sufficient seed potatoes of the Champion variety for the working of the scheme, and that the Up-to-Date is the only reliable variety of which a sufficient quantity of seed can be obtained. This does not fetter the action of growers or associations who are making their own arrangements locally, as farmers in large numbers have done and are doing.