asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has received a copy of a resolution adopted at a representative meeting of dairy farmers, held in Limerick, on 18th June, 1946, under the auspices of the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society, wherein a demand was made for an increase in the price of milk supplied to creameries from 10½d. per gallon to 1/- a gallon during the summer period and from 1/- to 1/3 during the winter period; and, if so, if he will state whether he intends to accede to the request embodied in that resolution in view of the fact that returns, furnished to that meeting by 25 creameries in the chief dairying counties, show that the decrease in milk supply during the past ten years varied from 15 per cent. in some creameries to as much as 45 per cent. in other creameries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Milk to Creameries.
I understand that a resolution in the terms indicated was adopted at the meeting mentioned. I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his question of 28th March last on the same subject. I have nothing to add to that reply.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state, in respect of the latest date for which the completed returns are available, the average price per gallon paid for milk delivered to creameries in Éire.
The average price paid by creameries for milk in 1944, the latest year for which particulars are available, was 11¼d. per gallon.
Will the Minister say what price was paid by the Dairy Disposals Company?
About the same I suppose.
Is the Minister aware that it is the general opinion in County Cork that the co-operative creameries are paying a higher price than the Dairy Disposals Company creameries?
I do not know what the opinion may be.
Can the Minister state definitely what the Dairy Disposals Company creameries are paying?
No. I am prohibited from stating that by law.
Who made the law?
He did himself.