asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that the citizens of Cork are suffering great hardship due to the lack of a twicedaily milk delivery; and, if so, if he will state what steps, if any, he proposes to take to ensure that the city will get supplies of fresh milk twice daily.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Milk Delivery.
The number of milk deliveries daily in Cork City is a matter for the local distributors and is not one in which I have any statutory functions. Under the Milk and Dairies Act, however, I am concerned to ensure that the quality of milk supplies generally is up to a satisfactory standard. In that connection, I recently made proposals to the Cork Corporation and the Cork County Council that all milk (other than the highest grade) sold in the Cork sale district should be pasteurised. The Cork Corporation has accepted my suggestion in principle, but I understand from a recent Press report that the Cork County Council have rejected the proposal. Had the proposal been accepted and brought into effect, the principal cause of the present legitimate complaint could be eliminated.
Could not the Minister request the issuing authority to offer permits to people outside the milk board area who are willing to supply milk twice daily in Cork, and not to issue them to people who have no cooling apparatus and who will not deliver more than once a day?
As the Deputy is aware, this matter is one which I have been trying to resolve for quite a considerable time without trampling on anybody, large or small. A number of very small suppliers get their livelihood out of selling milk in Cork City. I do not doubt that the Deputy is just as solicitous as I am to ensure that they shall not be ruthlessly eliminated from their livelihood. Having carefully considered every device that could be employed, I am satisfied that the suggestions that I have made to the two local authorities will most effectively achieve the purpose of getting a good supply of milk for the people of Cork City by causing the minimum of inconvenience to those who depend on the business for a living. I could do many things, but I am reluctant to use powers which would unnecessarily hurt people when there is a way of doing the proper thing and hurting nobody.
Would the Minister not consider it more advisable to prevent people getting permits who are only prepared to deliver milk once a day, people who have no cooling apparatus? Would it not be more advisable to say that these people would not get permits, and give them to small people who are willing to deliver the milk twice daily and so ensure that the children and people of Cork will not be suffering in their health through this daily service of milk?
The Deputy, I think, is over-simplifying the problem. If the interested parties in Cork are not prepared to co-operate in any way, I shall have to take counsel with my colleague, the Minister for Health, to determine what steps must be taken to put an end to an unsatisfactory situation. Perhaps the Deputy would help me by using his influence with the Cork County Council. If he does, I think we will be able to produce the result that he desires without inconveniencing anybody.
I have used my influence with the corporation and with the representatives of the consumers.
And effectively.
And the Deputy's colleagues on the Cork County Council voted against it.
That is not true.
That is true, including Deputy Corry.
It would be better if Deputies settled these local disputes in the locality in which they arose.