asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state for what period is the price of milk supplied to creameries guaranteed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Guaranteed Milk Price.
asked the Minister for Agriculture for what period of years does the guarantee of 1/4 and 1/6 a gallon for creamery milk operate.
Mr. Walsh
I propose, a Chinn Chomhairle, with your permission, to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together. The increased creamery milk prices which I announced recently apply to the period from the 1st July, 1951, to the 30th April, 1952.
Is the five-year guarantee which was associated with the price of 1/3 and 1/4 per gallon now withdrawn by the Government?
Mr. Walsh
The guaranteed price for five years was 1/3 in the summer and 1/4 in the winter. That price has now been increased to 1/4 and 1/6 until the 30th April, 1952.
Does the overriding guarantee that the price will not fall below 1/3 and 1/4 still hold, or has that been cancelled in consideration of granting 1/4 and 1/6 for 12 months?
Mr. Walsh
The Deputy can take it that it has not been cancelled and he can also take it that we will not put into effect the suggestion which was made by Deputy Dillon to reduce it to 1/-.
The Minister, as such, is obliged by the courtesy of the House to answer questions——
Mr. Walsh
I answered the question.
All I am asking the Minister is, in cancelling the price fixed by the Government of which I was a member of 1/3 and 1/4 according to the five-year guarantee, has the Minister cancelled the five-year minimum guarantee?
Mr. Walsh
There is no cancellation.
So that the guarantee stands? I wish to pay a tribute to the present Minister for granting us a rise of a penny but I say that he did not go far enough.
The Deputy is not asking a question.
It is no good if it is not guaranteed for five years as was done by his predecessor.
You had better come over here.