asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) what quantity of milk was sold by County Limerick creameries from 1st April, 1951, to date or to the latest available date, to firms in other counties, other than the Condensed Milk Company of Ireland (1928) Limited, and (b) what quantity of milk, whole or processed, was sold by the Condensed Milk Company of Ireland (1928) Limited, during the period above-mentioned for the production of chocolate or chocolate crumb.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Milk.
As regards (a), the information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department, while as regards (b) it is not the practice to furnish particulars relating to the trading of individual concerns and I do not propose to depart from that practice.
Will the Minister have regard to the quantity of milk supplied by the County Limerick for the purpose of manufacturing chocolate crumb and give consideration to the application for a licence for the manufacture of chocolate crumb or chocolate in any form before ignoring the claim of County Limerick?
That is a wider question. I was not aware that the Deputy had in view the raising of that wider issue when he sought the information set out in the question.
I think it is particularly relevant in view of the fact that I have already discussed the matter with the Minister for Agriculture and pointed out that we are the biggest suppliers of milk in the country for the manufacture of chocolate crumb and that we have been denied a licence in the County Limerick. From a recent reply of the Minister it would appear that he is not considering issuing a licence for the manufacture of chocolate crumb. I hope that applies to chocolate nut as well.
The Deputy may take it that if the question of the issue of a licence was being considered, naturally all these factors would have to be gone into.