asked the Minister for Agriculture whether the Milk Costings Commission has received the report on the costings of creamery milk.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Costings Commission Report.
The technical director informed me on 15th May that he expected to submit a summary report for the creamery milk areas by the end of June; in his letter, dated 25th May, the technical director stated he expected to make this report about the end of June. I understand that this report has not been furnished to the commission.
I interviewed the technical director of the commission at the Department of Agriculture on 28th June and pointed out to him that in my opinion he had an urgent duty to fulfil the undertaking to make the report available not later than 30th June, and I have received the following letter from him:—
"17 Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin.
29th June, 1956.
Dear Secretary,
With reference to the Minister's request yesterday for submission of a preliminary summary statement of milk costs on the creamery farms by to-morrow, 30th June, similar to that submitted to the committee in respect of the liquid milk farms, I regret that it is not possible to do so.
As mentioned to the Minister yesterday the completion of the report which, as indicated in my last letter, it was hoped to finish by about the end of this month, requires at least a couple of weeks' further work.
Unless there is a direction otherwise the inquiry will be completed under the arrangements made for it, and the report will be submitted, in accordance with the terms of reference, to the committee.
Copy of a letter being sent to-day to the members of the committee is enclosed.
Yours sincerely,
(Sgd.) T.A. Smiddy.
John Dempsey, Esq.,
Secretary,
Department of Agriculture,
Upper Merrion Street, Dublin."