asked the Minister for Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to a statement issued by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association that the recent order by An Bord Bainne fixing at one penny per gallon the rate of levy payable to the Board by every owner of a creamery or cream-separating station would do untold damage to the industry which the Board was intended to serve; that the levy represented a cut of between 10/- and £1 a week in the average dairy farmer's income; that the milk producers' return was pushed back to the level of nine years ago; that the Budget relief to the small farmer meant between 1/- and 1/6d. per week, and that up to £1 per week would be taken from him; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Levy.
17.
I have seen this statement and all other statements on the subject. I, like those who made these statements, am aware that the Board, in striking a levy, were only discharging their statutory function.
Surely the Minister is aware that a levy of one penny a gallon on milk will have a very serious effect on dairy farmers?
That is an argument, not a question.
Will the Minister reconsider his decision and abolish the levy?
The Minister is aware that the Deputy, as a member of this House, as well as all other Deputies, had the report of the advisory body on the marketing of agricultural produce before him, that that report contained a recommendation that the expenses of the Board should be met in this fashion, that the Deputy, as a member of this House, listened to the discussion that took place on the proposal I introduced to implement that recommendation and that some of those who sought election by the suppliers to An Bord Bainne were members of the advisory body who signed that report without reservation.
Is the Minister aware that the Minister for Finance got enough money in his first Budget to cover the expenses of these various bodies?
The Minister is not aware of any such thing. The Minister knows that he struck a levy himself in 1958 before An Bord Bainne came into existence at all.
Does it not strike the Minister as strange that at a time when every other section of the working public is in receipt of the benefits of the eighth round of wage increases, the creamery farmers are to have their incomes cut by from 10/- to £1 a week? Does he think that is consistent with good policy on the even of our entry into the European Economic Community?
The figures do not establish that even this levy, the introduction of which no Minister for Agriculture would feel pleased about, will have the effect of decreasing the income of the dairy farmers as between 1953 and 1962 because the production and delivery of milk per cow has gone up substantially since 1953. The Minister is aware of the problems of the dairy industry and the problem of the disposal of our surplus butter and he is aware that we will not solve these problems by talking in terms such as the Deputy has spoken in now. They are difficult problems and the Minister has been trying his best to solve them, notwithstanding quota restrictions and everything else.
I appreciate that they are difficult problems, but is it not a fact that, as between 1961 and 1962, every section of the public is enjoying the benefit of the eighth round of wage increases, with one exception, the creamery farmers, who, instead of getting an increase, are to suffer a reduction of from 10/- to £1 a week?
It is not true to say that a reduction in their incomes will arise. There will be a reduction as against what they would receive, if no levy were struck, but there will not be a reduction as compared with 1953.
Why compare 1953 with 1962?
Because they are the years selected by those who look for the most favourable calculations to establish their case.
I am asking about the difference as between 1961 and 1962.
I cannot say about 1962 because we are only in the beginning of the season. I am surprised that Deputy Dillon should show such anxiety on this particular matter because at a time when there was no difficulty in the matter of outside markets, he recommended a decrease in the price of milk from 1/3d. or 1/4d. per gallon to 9d., 1/-.
Rubbish. That is a falsehood that has been repeated several times and I have corrected it. It is not true.
It is not rubbish.
As Minister for Agriculture, in a speech to the Waterford County Committee of Agriculture, and further in a letter to the 200 societies in this country, the Deputy recommended to them, under threat of what would happen the future of their industry, a price of 9d. to 1/- a gallon at a time when they were in fact getting 1/3d. and 1/4d. a gallon.
The fact remains that as between 1961 and 1962 the farmers are the only section of the community who are to get not an increase but a reduction and to talk about 1949 cuts no ice. The facts are on the records of this House about that. I am talking about 1962.
Question No. 18.
We do not forget the Minister for External Affairs buying the cattle from the Broy Harriers.
Order.
Deputy Aiken, the Minister for External Affairs.
Order please. Question No. 18.
You will never get any cheap cattle like that.
Did he buy them himself?
He had agents to do the buying—emergency men from the North.