asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the Mitchelstown co-operative creameries refused an order for 500 tons of Gruyère cheese some months ago, and if so, if he will ascertain if this decision was taken by the committee of management or whether the manager acted on his own initiative, and if he will investigate the circumstances and terms of this refusal from the point of view of its effect on our export trade.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Orders for Cheese.
Mr. Walsh
The answer to the first part of the question is "No" and the other parts of the question do not, therefore, arise. I might, however, refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave to a question of his on the 10th July, in which I mentioned that co-operative creameries are independent trading concerns and, as such, are free to conduct their business affairs in their own way within the framework of the law.
Is it not true——
Mr. Walsh
Within the framework of the law.
True, but should this or any other creamery be constrained hereafter to seek from the Minister exceptional permission to export their products must not regard be had to the fact that they refused to sell that which was profitably saleable and, indeed, might find themselves now in the position of having a substantial quantity of an alternative product for which they will have to come to the Minister for exceptional facilities in order to dispose of it?
Mr. Walsh
There is nothing further I can add to my reply. There is nothing officially known of this in my Department. I understand the Deputy, when he was a Minister, did have private conversations in connection with this matter but there is no record of them.