asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware that thousands of gallons of milk are sold in Dublin daily for human consumption produced from cows under conditions that are not subject to any inspection or supervision and that milk of this standard is not allowed to be sold for human consumption in Northern Ireland or Great Britain or even used in making bread and confectionery and if he will state what steps he proposes to take to prevent such milk being sold for human consumption and if he is also aware that if a milk producer in Dublin City or County offered such milk for sale he would be prosecuted, and put out of business.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Supplies in Dublin.
I do not consider that the Deputy is correct in stating that thousands of gallons of milk are sold in Dublin daily for human consumption produced from cows that are not subject to any inspection or supervision. In all districts in the country veterinary inspectors charged with the supervision of the milk supplies have been appointed and it is difficult to see how so large a number of cows could escape inspection or supervision. If, however, any such milk is supplied in Dublin the operation of the Milk and Dairies Act, 1935, will remedy the position in due course.
Arising out of the Minister's reply is he not aware that, as stated in the question, thousands of gallons of milk come into Dublin daily; that the producers of that milk are not bound to register, and consequently their premises are not subject to inspection, and their cows are not subject to any clinical inspection by a veterinary officer?
I do not know whether the Deputy is correct in saying that thousands of gallons of milk come in under those conditions, but it is true that in all those public health districts in and surrounding Dublin the public health authorities have their own veterinary officers.
In and around Dublin is correct.
They have their own veterinary officers, but the Deputy knows that the Milk and Dairies Act which was passed last year was passed with a view to remedying this situation which he has in mind. The regulations under that Act will be, I expect, in force in a very short time.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, if he relies on remedying this matter by the Milk and Dairies Act passed last year, which will soon come into operation, may I take it that that is an admission of what is implied in my question, namely, that milk is coming in which is not subject to supervision, and that the insinuation in regard to the source of production is correct?
I do not admit that the situation is as the Deputy has stated in his question, but I do agree that there might be greater supervision, and I say that such greater and more detailed supervision will come into operation under the Milk and Dairies Act of last year.
Will the Minister investigate the matter, therefore, and give a guarantee that if the milk which is coming in is not subject to the same supervision to which milk in Dublin City, Meath, Kildare and elsewhere is subject, he will take the necessary steps to have that proper supervision instituted or stop the supplies?
When the Act of last year is put into operation, as I hope it will be shortly, not alone in Dublin but in the surrounding counties, the full powers of the Act will be used to see that the supplies of milk will comply with all the terms of the Act.