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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 29 Nov 1928

Vol. 27 No. 8

PUBLIC BUSINESS. - THE BUTTER TRADE—MINISTER'S STATEMENT.

Might I take this opportunity to make a very short personal statement? In answer to a statement made by Deputy Ryan last night, in which he said that the co-operative creameries controlled by the Department of Agriculture did not sell all their butter through the Irish Associated Creameries, Limited, I interrupted the Deputy to say that they did: that all the butter produced by the creameries controlled by the Department of Agriculture was sold through this co-operative marketing association. That is, I think, the impression that I gave to the House. I have since made inquiries and learned that that is not quite correct. I learned that the position is that all the exported butter from these creameries is sold through the I.A.C. In the other three creameries, where a roll trade has been done in the past, by agreement with the I.A.C. the roll trade is still continued. There are three such creameries—one in Tipperary, one at Knocklong, and a third some place else. The home trade from these creameries is still done by the creameries themselves. In addition to that there is the wholesale depôt, which was purchased as part of a property of the Condensed Milk Co., in Cork city. That wholesale store is still supplied with butter from the creameries controlled by the Department of Agriculture, and that butter is sold direct. The exact position is: that all the exported butter from the creameries controlled by the Department of Agriculture and which formerly belonged to the Condensed Milk Co. is sold through the I.A.C., and by agreement with the I.A.C. the home trade and the roll trade and the trade that is done through the Cork depôt is done direct by the creameries, but that is being done by agreement with the I.A.C. It is our policy, of course, to extend, as much as possible, our sales through the I.A.C., but in view of the fact that I stated most specifically last night that the whole trade was done through the I.A.C., I want to make it clear what the position is exactly.

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