§ Mr. O'SHEEasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that some years ago the Department sent a representative to the Continent to inquire whether beet-growing for sugar would be a suitable industry for Ireland; that experiments were also made in Ireland, and that it was found that beet-growing in Ireland contained sufficient saccharin to make the crop profitable for the production of sugar; whether he is aware that the representative of the Department reported that large bounties were given on the Continent to beet-growers and beet-sugar manufacturers, and that, in his opinian, beet-sugar could not be extracted in Ireland to compete with the Continental sugar; and whether, in order to encourage beet-growing for sugar in Ireland, the Department 1850W will recommend that bounties should be given equivalent to the foreign bounties, or a countervailing tariff imposed?
§ Mr. SAMUELSA representative of the Department of Agriculture visited the Continent some years ago to make inquiries as to sugar-beet growing and its suitability for Ireland. Experiments in growing sugar-beet were made in Ireland, and, as already stated in answer to previous questions, showed that beet could be produced comparing favourably in yield and sugar with beet produced in other countries. Whether beet-growing could be established as a profitable industry depends upon other considerations than the quality of the roots grown. I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to questions on this subject by the hon. Member for South Sligo on the 19th March, 1917, and by the hon. Member for North Westmeath on 17th April, 1917. As I stated in answer to the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division on the 26th February, the Department of Agriculture are of opinion that, under existing circumstances, farmers should concentrate their attention on the production of staple food crops rather than upon the raising of comparatively untried crops.