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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 1963

Vol. 206 No. 7

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Improvement of Milk Quality.

30.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if, in view of the need to increase milk output in the coming season by at least 20,000,000 gallons in order to supply export markets for dairy products, and of the further need to improve the quality of the milk, he will indicate whether or not his Department have any plans to assist dairy farmers to increase their herd numbers and to improve milk quality.

First of all, I should like to say that the Deputy's reference to export markets is a bit optimistic. In fact there is a world commercial surplus of dairy products and exporting countries have to sell them at a loss which in some instances is very severe. I am glad that our milk production has been steadily increasing but at the same time it would be quite wrong to imagine that world markets are waiting to buy up all we produce and at an economic price.

I consider that the recently announced scheme of grants for calved heifers will be a valuable inducement to farmers to increase their herds. As regards milk quality, considerable attention is being given to this matter by my Department in conjunction with the advisory services and the question whether further measures are desirable is being discussed with farm organisations in the light of the report of the survey team on the dairying industry.

Does the Minister not agree that both the Common Market countries and Britain have taken steps to rationalise the market for dairy products and, as a result, there has been a spectacular increase in the price of these products, particularly butter, and that therefore his highly conservative attitude and the kind of depressing view he has now enunciated is out of date?

None of my actions as Minister for Agriculture in the past couple of years is in any way indicative of a depressive or cowardly approach towards milk production.

I did not use the word "cowardly". In the past few minutes, the Minister has indicated a very depressive approach.

I am facing the facts as I know them.

It is the farmers who are depressed.

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