asked the Minister for Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the grounds for the dismissal by the District Justice of an action at the Kilmanagh Court brought against a supplier of milk to Kilmanagh Creamery; whether he is aware that the judgment given in this case is in harmony with all previous decisions given in Saorstát Courts in parallel cases; that on a case being stated the High Court reversed the finding of the District Justice, resulting in decided and unforeseen hardships on creamery suppliers; that previous to this judgment the recognised law and practice in Court was, if the milk supplied was below the standard of 3 per cent. butter fat and the owner could prove that the milk was not tampered with from the time of milking until delivered at the creamery, the case fell through; and if the Minister will by order or by the introduction of proposals for legislation make provision to reduce— for the months of January, February and March, when the quality of Irish milk to creameries is below 3 per cent. due to cows calving, lack of grass, etc.—the butter fat standard of milk supplied to creameries, as apart from that supplied to consumers, to 2.5 per cent.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Butter Standards.
Mr. Hogan
I understand that the facts in the case referred to are as stated in the first portion of the Question.
In regard to the concluding portion. I am not prepared to take action in the direction suggested, as the serious disadvantages which would arise therefrom would outweigh any possible advantage. I may add that the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Milk Standards, which was composed of representatives of the Department of Local Government and Public Health and of the Department of Agriculture, unanimously recommended that there should be no reduction in the existing 3 per cent. standard for butter fat.
Would the Minister say that this Departmental Committee had the case of creamery suppliers in mind; was it not the retail suppliers they had in mind?
Mr. Hogan
I should say it was mainly retail suppliers. But on the other hand what are the advantages of lowering the standards so far as creameries are concerned? Deputies will realise that there are a great many disadvantages.
I do not realise it.
Mr. Hogan
One disadvantage is that you get back skimmed milk in proportion to the quantity of milk you deliver. The more you dilute, the more skimmed milk you get back.
The more water.
Mr. Hogan
No, because it is your neighbour's skimmed milk you get back, not your own.