asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state, with reference to milk supplies for the Dublin Sale District: (a) the increase in consumption for the three months ended 30th September, for each of the years 1945, 1946 and 1947; and (b) the corresponding figures showing how the increases have been met from the production area and from creameries.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Sale District Milk Supplies.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state what means have been adopted to induce increased supplies of creamery milk to be diverted to the Dublin Sale Area; and if, in view of increasing supplies, he will state his attitude to paragraphs 232 and 233 of the Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Milk Supply for the Dublin Sale District.
I propose to take questions Nos. 17 and 18 together with your permission, a Chinn Comhairle.
Complete figures for the month of September, 1947, are not yet available. For the three months ended 31st August, 1945, the consumption of milk in the Dublin Sale District increased by 251,923 gallons over the quantity in the corresponding period in 1944. During the three month periods ended on 31st August, 1946, and 31st August, 1947, there were further increases in consumption, of 150,234 gallons and 376,600 gallons respectively over the consumption of the previous year. The figure for 1947 represents, therefore, an increase of 778,757 gallons over that for 1944. The increased consumption in 1945 and 1946 was fully met by local production. In 1947, it was necessary to supplement local production by obtaining 151,760 gallons from creameries.
The procuring of day to day supplies of milk for the Dublin Sale Area is a matter for arrangement by the suppliers in the ordinary way of business, in conjunction, where necessary, with the Dublin Milk Board.
I am not prepared at this stage to make any comment on the Report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Milk Supply for the Dublin Sale District.
Will the Minister say whether the fall in 1947 was due to a reduction in the herds in the production area?
The Minister has answered that question. Last week I gave what my Department thought are the reasons for the present position. It was caused largely by the increased consumption of milk.
The Minister has not stated whether, in fact, there was a decrease in the number of cows in the production area.
I have no evidence of that.
I am afraid the Minister is trying to evade the question.
I am saying that I have no evidence of a decrease in the number of cows in the production area.
There is evidence of a decrease in the supply.
There is not, except to a very slight extent. There is formidable evidence that the consumption of milk has gone up here enormously.
That is agreed.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state, with reference to supplies of creamery milk for the Dublin Sale District: (a) the average daily gallonage, for the last month in which returns are available; (b) the gallonage supplied by registered creameries for the same period; and (c) the gallonage supplied from creameries operating under special licence.
The latest month for which returns are available is September last. In that month, the average daily gallonage of creamery milk supplied to the Dublin Sale District was 11,463. In the same month the total quantity supplied by registered creameries was 259,836 gallons, and by creameries operating under special licence was 84,041 gallons.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state: (a) the last date on which he received a determination from the Dublin District Milk Board, under Section 42 of the Milk (Regulation of Supply and Price) Act, 1936; (b) the prices therby determined; (c) whether such determination was unanimous; (d) the reasons why he did not implement such determination; and (e) whether, before he fixed the price, he had consultations with any member of the board or any other person, body, or interest, and if so, with whom.
The answer to (a) is 30th September last. As regards (b) and (c) it is not customary to publish particulars as regards communications addressed to me by the Dublin Milk Board and I do not propose to create a precedent by departing from that practice. As regards parts (d) and (e) of the question there is nothing I can usefully add to my reply to the Deputy on this subject of last Wednesday except to say that in coming to my decision I was acting in exercise of the function assigned to me under Section 43 of the Milk (Regulation of Supply and Price) Act, 1936, as amended by the Act of 1941.
Does not the Minister admit that he did not implement the unanimous decision? Is he not prepared to admit that he did not implement the decision of a board representative of all the interests, including the consumers?
I am not under any obligation to implement any decision other than that which I regard as fair and reasonable.
Is it not a fact that the Minister did not implement the unanimous recommendation of a board representative of the various interests concerned, including the consumers' interests?
The Deputy is trying to convey that I am under some obligation to implement a recommendation. I say the only obligation I have is to examine the position and sanction what I regard as fair and reasonable having regard to all the circumstances as they appear to me.
I admit that the Minister has no obligation to implement. I am asking whether it is not a fact that he did not implement the unanimous recommendation of a board representative of all interests, including the consumers' interests?
That has often happened before.
Will the Minister give a categorical reply, yes or no? He is not prepared to say yes or no.