asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether he will cause a committee of Dáil Eireann to be established with the following terms of reference: to inquire into the question of the milk supply for Dublin City, and make such recommendations as may appear necessary to safeguard the legitimate interests of milk producers, distributors and consumers in that market.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin City Milk Supply.
Dr. Ryan
The Milk (Regulation of Supply and Price) Bill introduced last week and circulated to Deputies provides the necessary machinery for dealing with the question of the milk supply for Dublin City and any other areas to which it may be necessary to apply it.
Am I to understand from the Minister's reply that he will not set up any committee to inquire into the facts? The Minister is aware that the circumstances ruling that type of agriculture, which is operated to supply milk to urban centres such as Dublin and Cork, are peculiar and are not widely understood by persons coming from other parts of the country? Does he not consider, in view of the fact that the interests of three separate classes of persons are involved—producers, distributors and consumers— that it would be of material assistance to this House in devising legislative remedies for the evils that exist to have the advice of an expert commission which has heard evidence?
Dr. Ryan
Legislation was prepared after consultation with those interests named by the Deputy and I think it should cover the point.
Is the Minister aware that, since negotiations took place between his Department and those interests, the price of loose milk, sold over the counter in the poorer parts of the City of Dublin, has been raised from 1½d. a pint to 2d. a pint, and does the Minister not consider that that fact alone would warrant the holding of an inquiry into the conditions under which milk is sold in the City of Dublin?