asked the Minister for Agriculture whether butter earmarked for export to Belgium under trade agreements is at present being consumed in the domestic market; and, if so, if he will state how will the butter requirements of the Belgian trade agreement be supplied.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Provision for Butter Exports.
Dr. Ryan
During last summer and autumn, when production was high, a certain quantity of butter was stored for the Belgian market. The quantity reserved was found to be greater than the requirements to the 31st March next, and the surplus was recently sold on the home market.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is it proposed to import butter now, and, if so, will it be necessary to use any of that imported butter for filling export quotas?
Dr. Ryan
No.
No? Well, if it is not necessary to use any of that imported butter for the purpose of filling export quotas, will the fresh butter be sent to our foreign markets while the people of this country are required to consume imported cold-stored butter?
Dr. Ryan
The butter that was stored and earmarked for the Continental market will be sent to the Continental market. A certain small quantity of butter must be imported— roughly about a week's supply—and that will be consumed by the people here.
Why does not the Minister, then, send that other butter to the Continent, and let us consume our own butter here?
Dr. Ryan
But we undertook to give Irish butter to the Continental market.
Am I to understand, from what the Minister has said, that a situation has now arisen in which we are going to ship butter 1,000 miles from the Port of Dublin in one direction, and, at the same time, import butter 1,000 miles in the other direction, and that as, say, 100 tons of butter come into the port from some foreign country, 100 tons of our own butter go out? If that is so, I can only say that Bedlam is upon us.
Dr. Ryan
In one sense, I entirely agree with the Deputy. That is absolute Fianna Fáil policy.
Oh, hear, hear. Perhaps I could agree with the Minister also.