asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the amount of milk estimated to be delivered to creameries in the financial years 1957-58 and 1958-59.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Deliveries to Creameries.
It is expected that the quantity of milk delivered to creameries during the year ending 31st March, 1958, will be approximately 290,000,000 gallons. It is too early to estimate what quantity may be supplied in the financial year 1958-59.
Surely the Minister has some basis on which he was able to base the reduction in the Estimate in relation to the subsidy that would have to be paid on surplus production in this branch of the industry? Would he give to the House the figure on which that reduction was based, as reflected in the Estimates?
That is not necessarily so. Last year the provisions in the Estimate were £600,000 and the Dáil was called upon to vote a supplementary sum of over £3,000,000 to meet the deficit which arose.
Will the Minister recall that it was pointed out to him at Budget time that he and the Government would have to face that commitment?
We did not prepare the Estimates. Anyhow, it was a commitment on the part of the Government to meet the matter of the disposal of whatever surplus butter we might have and the Government, the Dáil and the taxpayers have kept their contract in that matter.
Is the Minister not aware that the Estimate for last year and the Estimate for next year are both framed on certain figures for production, that in relation to the Estimates so framed on those figures for production there is a similar estimate made for domestic consumption, on surpluses above domestic consumption, and therefore the Minister must have the figures on foot of which he has based his Estimate for next year? The Estimate for this year for surpluses depends entirely on domestic consumption. Next year his Estimate must be framed on a figure of production without dividing that figure.
I have not the faintest idea of how the figure of £600,000 was calculated in last year's Estimate.
I have.
You have. At the same time the former Minister had nerve enough to repudiate in this House an approval which he gave only a few months before he went out of office. The Deputy has a good memory for this matter while he did not have a good memory for a deliberate action which he took in another regard.
I have a clear recollection.
The Deputy is always clear when he wants to be but he is very dull when it suits him.
When I say that I remember, it is because I am aware of the facts. When I am not aware, I like to check the facts from the written records before I say in public that I am certain.
Why should the Deputy deny it until he checks it?
Question No. 25.
I am asking for the check.
Order!
We will see what the check reveals.
The check will be all right.
I am quite sure that any check I ask for will be all right.