asked the Minister for Agriculture if is will state whether he is aware that the Lisavaird Co-operative Creamery, Clonakilty, applied on the 20th August, 1941, for permission to store 500 cwts. of butter for the winter, and that in a letter from the Department, dated 23rd August, permission for this storage was refused; and if he will state what were the reasons for refusing the permission to store asked for.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Storage of Butter.
An application from Lisavaird Creamery for permission to cold store the quantity of creamery butter stated was not received until the 21st August, 1941. This creamery had been given ample opportunity to apply at the proper time. The application could not be considered as arrangements in connection with the cold storage schemes had been completed prior to that date.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the names of (a) the creameries; and (b) other persons, who applied for and were refused permission to store butter for last winter; the amount of butter involved in each refusal; and the total amount of such butter.
Sanction to cold store butter was refused to eight creameries and 16 other persons. The total quantity of butter covered by these refusals was 5,060 cwts. The only reason for the refusal of any application was that arrangements for implementing the cold storage schemes had been completed before the receipt of the applications. With the exception of five applications in July in respect of 200 to 300 cwt. of butter, all the other applications were received after the stoppage of exports in the first week of August, and the refusal of these applications had, therefore, no effect whatever on the stocks of butter kept in this country. No useful purpose would be served by furnishing individual particulars.
Did those creameries cold store butter after that?
More butter was produced during August, September and October than would be used by consumers, and that went into cold storage, but it was all taken up by somebody or other.
In view of the Minister's refusal to let these creameries cold store butter, can he give any indication as to when people will be able to get butter?
That is not relevant.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether it is proposed to allow creameries who were refused permission to store butter for winter requirements last year, to do so this year.
Arrangements in connection with the cold storage of butter to meet winter requirements are at present receiving attention. As in previous years, all applications from creameries received in time will be given consideration.
What is the latest date by which the Minister expects to receive applications for cold storage this year?
I could not say that for this year, but probably it would be about the end of May.
Does the Minister suggest that all applications to cold store butter must be sent in by creameries or other persons before the end of this month?
They are all being circularised, but I could not say the exact date.
Could the Minister not tell us for this year?
Does the Minister expect creameries to be able to anticipate their cold storage requirements by the end of May and the space required for butter?
They have nothing to store now.
If a creamery applies for cold storage space by the end of May, does the Minister expect the creamery to be in a position to say what quantity they would, in fact, put into cold store during the summer period?
They are asked what quantity they would like to put into cold store, and that depends on what their customers will require during the winter.
If a creamery gives the Minister an estimate of the quantity it desires to put into cold store, and subsequently fails to provide the necessary butter for which the space was bespoken, is there any penalty?
Prosecute the cows.
There is no immediate penalty, but their word will not be taken the following year.
Does the Minister realise, in the present state of affairs and in view of the acute scarcity of butter for current consumption, that the creamery managers cannot make any intelligent forecast as to what butter they will be in a position to put into cold store, though they may shrewdly suspect what quantity they would like to take out next autumn and winter, and will the Minister bear that in mind in fixing the last date on which a person may properly bespeak cold storage space?
The Deputy will agree with me that the manager is the best possible person to judge that.
The Minister will also agree with me that; in normal circumstances, he is, but when, in fact, this year he has not got any milk and there is an acute shortage, it is hard for him to give an estimate as to what cold storage space he will require for the winter and autumn, and in those circumstances will the Minister consider extending the date for bespeaking cold storage accommodation?
Is the Minister making any provision for increasing the cold storage capacity?
Yes, that has been done. Every year there is a supplementary cold storage Order when the season is well advanced. Last year a circular was sent out about the middle of July advising creameries and others to store supplementary amounts, and I am sure the same will be done this year.
Surely, in view of the fact that we are not exporting any butter, the Minister will make arrangements to cold store all the butter not needed for supplying consumers?
Yes.
The Minister is making arrangements to cold store all the surplus butter?
Yes.
Is it anticipated that more butter will be cold stored this year than last year?
We hope that we will have the space.
Will we have the butter?
I hope so, but I cannot say that definitely.
Does it not rest with the Minister himself?
No; it rests with the cows.
Will the Minister make the price sufficiently attractive?
A shower of rain would be very important.