asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether the chairman of the Milk Costings Commission informed him that the committee would not continue their investigation because of a difference of opinion on a definition; and if so, if he will publish the chairman's letter to him.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Costings Investigation.
Mr. Walsh
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a question asked by Deputy Corry on 20th November and to the Official Report of the debate on the adjournment which took place that night, in the course of which I read in full the letters which had passed between the chairman of the Milk Production Costs Committee and myself.
In the Minister's reply to Deputy Corry he definitely stated that the Costings Commission broke down owing to disagreement on a definition and that he had been informed by the chairman of the Costings Commission that it broke down because of disagreement on a definition. In the two letters which the Minister quoted in the adjournment debate there is no reference to the Costings Commission breaking down because of the definition. There is no reference to it in either of the letters written by Professor Smiddy. The Minister took occasion to put the blame on the producers' representatives for the breakdown of the Costings Commission on the basis of a disagreement in regard to a definition when the actual fact was that there was disagreement on what were costing principles——
Have they not settled it to-day?
I do not know.
The Deputy is making a speech, not asking a question.
I am suggesting to the Minister that when he stated that there was a breakdown about a definition he was saying something that was not true.
Mr. Walsh
That is not true. It is on the definition they broke down.
Is it not true that the whole matter has been settled now and that the Costings Commission is going to go on? Would it not be best to leave it there?
Mr. Walsh
Yes.