asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to the NFA demand for a higher price and a quality bonus for milk; if he has noted the recall of the NFA National Action Committee and if he will at this stage amend his previous decision not to increase milk prices, in face of the justifiable unrest of the Irish farmers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Prices.
24.
There is nothing I can add to my reply to a similar Question by Deputy T. O'Donnell on 6th February.
In view of the Taoiseach's assertion yesterday that two organisations were trying to vie with each other in seeking increased prices for milk, would the Minister not consider inviting a joint deputation from these two organisations to consider the matter?
The Minister is well aware that any farmer offered a higher price for his produce will take it. The Minister is also aware that most of our farmers know the difficulties in relation to milk and milk products very well. They are aware of the high consumption of butter in this country and of the fact that it is fairly highly priced to the consumers here. They are aware of the difficulties of disposing of any surplus we have and of the cost to the taxpayer of assisting in that regard. Being aware of all these things, as I am very fully aware of them, they are prepared to countenance all sorts of playacting, but no effort to mislead them as to the facts of the situation will be successful.
Is the Minister inferring that these two organisations are irresponsible bodies?
The Minister is inferring exactly what he has stated.
Surely the Minister is not serious when he states that the Irish farmers are playacting with regard to an increase in the price of milk?
I am distinguishing between the Irish farmer and the people who call themselves the NFA National Council of Action.
Every organisation is wrong except the organisation that calls itself Fianna Fáil. The Minister is irresponsible and should not be where he is.
One would think they were on foreign service.
If there is a serious strike about milk, will the Minister meet them?
I have met them. I never refused to meet anyone.
Will the Minister indicate where the Taoiseach got the figure of an increase of 1/- per lb. in the price of butter?
The Deputy had better direct that question to the Taoiseach.
Are the Minister and the Taoiseach not on speaking terms?
No figure he has produced has confused my mind.
No farmer is on speaking terms with the Minister.
I will survive all the same.
I should like to ask the Minister if he considers that the present price for milk is an economic one and if he is satisfied that the dairy farmers will continue to produce at that price?
The Minister is more interested and more anxious about the matter than the NFA Action Council or any Deputy, not only as a Minister but because it concerns me very much. The evidence is there that milk production is regarded in the country as a most profitable activity. All the evidence goes to prove that that is so.
This attempt on the part of Fine Gael Deputies to slide in behind this struggle between these two rival organisations—I will make them a present of it.
When are you going to make the farmers a present of an increase in the price of milk?
We did not see the Deputy for a long time. I am delighted to hear his voice here and delighted that he is so enthusiastic in this House that he would like us to forget a famous occasion when they were going to pay only a shilling a gallon.
There was never a suggestion of the kind.
That falsehood has been revealed here many times and it is still a falsehood. If this were not Dáil Eireann, I should describe it as a lie.
Perhaps we can remember when Fianna Fáil agents ran a milk march in Dublin.
The Minister should tell the truth.
You would not understand the truth.
It has never been heard from the Minister.