asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that Danish butter only is being sold to consumers in Dublin; and, if so, whether he will ensure that Irish butter only is provided instead for rationed customers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Danish Butter.
The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.
If Irish butter were available in quantities sufficient to meet all present home requirements, the need for importing supplementary supplies from abroad would not have arisen.
Is the Minister aware that there was a notice in the paper from the retail grocers stating that certain privileged shopkeepers are receiving supplies of Irish butter? Is he further aware that there is grave discontent in the built-up areas, especially in Cabra, where the only butter available to the people is foreign butter which is a very inferior commodity?
I ask the Deputy to be kind enough to wait until I answer the next question which relates to a similar subject and in reply to which I travel somewhat further than I have done in answer to the Deputy.
Major de Valera
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that a large number of people in the City of Dublin find the imported foreign butter which is being distributed at present very unpalatable and whether he will make arrangements at once to ensure that a proportion of the allowed ration of butter for each person will be met each week from stocks of Irish creamery butter.
Major de Valera
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware (a) that the butter rations to which the citizens of Dublin are entitled are now being met mostly from supplies of unpalatable imported butter; (b) that supplies of Irish creamery butter are being sold off the ration at the higher price of 3/6 per lb., and (c) that persons who need Irish butter must pay the higher price with consequent discrimination in favour of the higher income group; and, if so, whether he will take immediate action to end this abuse.
Mr. Byrne
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware that discontent has been caused through the issue of the butter ration in the form of imported butter for which the citizens have not acquired a taste, whilst Irish creamery butter is being sold at the unrationed price; and, if so, whether he will have instructions issued to reverse the position; and, further, if he will state whether the Government, when importing butter, specify for first quality.
I propose a Chinn Chomhairle, with your permission, to take Questions Nos. 43, 44 and 45 together.
I am aware that some comment has been made on the issue of the butter ration in the form of imported butter. This butter is first quality Danish butter, and I am glad to avail of this opportunity of extending the common courtesy to our Danish friends of saying that there are no grounds whatever for complaint in regard to its quality, on which it would be hard to improve.
It is true that the flavour and texture is not quite the same as that to which consumers in Ireland have become accustomed over a period of years and it is gratifying to Irish farmers to learn how keenly appreciated the special quality of Irish butter now is, thus providing an exception to the general rule that none are prophets in their own country. At a time, however, when the butter ration, not to speak of supplementary supplies, is at a higher level in this country than any other country in Europe, I cannot agree that anyone has genuine cause to complain if that ration consists of the highest quality butter obtainable in Europe outside Ireland. The necessity to import butter arises from the unexpectedly inclement weather which we experienced in the concluding months of 1950 with a consequential diminution in domestic production, combined with the fact that the unprecedented prosperity of our people fortunately enabled them to consume more butter in 1950 than they have ever consumed in recorded history before. It is noteworthy in this connection, as this fact was present to our minds when making our calculations, that on the only previous occasions when a similar quantity of butter was produced in Ireland, i.e., 1935 and 1936, when over 800,000 cwt. were produced, domestic consumption amounted to no more than 352,000 cwt., and 372,000 cwt., respectively, as compared with 745,000 cwt. in 1950, thus permitting an export in 1935 and 1936 of 473,000 cwt. and 460,000 cwt., respectively.
In addition to this, although the quantity of milk supplied to creameries was greater in 1950 than in any previous year, except 1936, an increasing diversion of milk to other industrial processes justified the payment of up to 1/7 per gallon for milk in lieu of 1/2 payable for milk converted into butter and has resulted in the total butter production from a given quantity of milk supplied to creameries diminishing. It is not proposed to restrict this method of user in the future, so as to reduce the farmer's receipts for his milk by not less than 5d. per gallon of any milk directed into butter production at the expense of other systems of user.
Deputy Corry, Deputy Byrne and Deputy Cogan rose.
Is the Minister aware that the price——
Deputy Byrne.
Mr. Byrne
The Minister did not answer the question. Despite the Minister's very eloquent reply, the people of Dublin cannot cultivate a taste for imported butter. I would suggest to him, therefore, as I suggested in my question, that he reverse the present position, and that the Irish creamery butter be given out as the rationed butter and the imported butter be given out at the unrationed butter price to those who wish to buy it.
That is a most admirable suggestion to which I would be most happy to give immediate effect if it were practicably possible to do so. What, in fact, is happening is that Danish butter is being distributed in Dublin, whither it comes, so as to avoid the immense expense of trying to spread it out all over the country. But I am happy to inform Deputy Byrne that the period of Purgatory will, I hope, end in a fortnight.
Purgatory?
The Purgatory of having more butter to eat than any other people in Europe, thanks be to God, and well able to eat it and pay for it too, no thanks to the Deputy.
You are going to give them hell.
Would the Minister undertake to have a gas mask supplied with every pound of butter?
Not when I am in the Deputy's company.
Is the Minister aware that the Dutch Minister sold that butter in France at 463/- per cwt. when our Minister sold his at 365/-, 98/- a cwt. less?
Major de Valera
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the quantity by weight of Irish creamery butter and (b) the quantity by weight of imported foreign butter at present available for distribution in the City of Dublin.
I regret that I cannot undertake to furnish the information asked for by the Deputy. To ascertain it in respect of any particular time would involve a considerable amount of work, and the information would be out of date by the time it could be made available, as the butter is in constant sale and consumption.