asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has made an Order to prevent milk, other than pasteurised milk, from being offered for sale in any specified area in the State, where the making of such an Order is in opposition to the wishes of the consumers and the local public health authority and if he has not made an Order in such case whether he will give an assurance that he will not do so.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Milk.
It has been suggested that there was some delay on my part in replying to this question. There is no foundation for this allegation, as the question was given to me for reply only to-day.
I might add to the reply just given to the same question by the Ministsr for Health, that there is, of course, no question of genuine opposition by the public to any measures which are necessary for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease through milk. For example, in the case of Cork City the corporation has, in fact, passed a resolution to the effect that the milk supply should be pasteurised, but the county council has not passed a parallel resolution with respect to those relatively minor parts of the Cork sale district which are under the jurisdiction of the council. I am satisfied that the county council's attitude is dictated by irrelevant considerations, and under the legislation already referred to by the Minister for Health, steps will be taken to ensure that the safeguarding of the Cork milk supply will not be blocked by such manoeuvres on the part of minority vested interests, who appear to attach more importance to their own convenience and profit than they do to the proteetion of Cork children from the danger of infection of bovine tuberculosis.
I cannot believe that the Deputy is prepared to characterise himself as an advocate of the sale of tubercular milk or to set himself out to destroy an excellent co-operative project sponsored by the farmers of County Cork.
Will the Minister answer the question on the Order Paper?
Instead of making a speech.
If the Deputy peruses the answer, which Deputy Boland regards as being so comprehensive as to merit calling it a speech, I think he will find all the relevant material cantained therein.
The question asks the Minister certain specific things. I do not think the Minister has replied to them. The Minister has prefaced his reply by stating that certain allegations have been made that there was a delay in giving a reply. Who made these allegations, I do not know.
You did.
I certainly did not, Sir. The Minister has stated that I made allegations that there was a delay on his part in replying to that question. I say that statement is untrue.