§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what action is being taken by his Department to ensure that an ample supply of potatoes at reasonable prices will be available for Home consumption as well as for purposes of send in the coming spring?
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELLThe Department are taking the only action at present in their power in this matter, that is, urging farmers to select their seed at once, and not to feed pigs or other livestock with seed potatoes or potatoes suitable for human consumption. As stated in the reply to the hon. Member for North Sligo on 16th November, the Department, in consultation with the Government, are giving the whole question of the potato crop the most careful consideration, and should further action seem called for it will be taken.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is now in a position to give a further estimate as to the shortage in the Irish potato crop of this year; whether he can state, approximately, the quantity of Irish potatoes of this year's crop shipped from Ireland up to the end of October; and whether shipment of potatoes from Ireland is still going on?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to this question on 16th November.