asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on the proposals for reorganising the creamery industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reorganisation of Creamery Industry.
137.
As indicated in the statement issued following my meeting with the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society on 6th December, further discussions on this subject will take place shortly. In the meantime, I do not propose to make any further statement in the matter.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that about four weeks ago a document was issued by the IAOS to the co-operative creameries which contained actual proposals for the amalgamation and rearrangement of the creameries and that it evoked so much criticism and opposition that the IAOS have denied they ever issued it?
I am not so aware. I am aware of the fact that a document purporting to have issued from the IAOS was spoken about and that there was reference in press reports to it, but at no stage did the IAOS accept responsibility for issuing it. It was pointed out at the time that the document only went to certain managers, which would prove that it did not issue from the IAOS.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary give us an assurance that no irrevocable decision will be made in regard to amalgamation until consultation has taken place between all interested parties?
That is a very difficult undertaking to give. I take it that the IAOS is representative of all those creameries and will certainly not come to any arrangement without being quite satisfied that it has the agreement of its members.