asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on the present position regarding the proposed reorganisation of the creamery industry.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Creamery Industry Reorganisation.
10.
Following a recommendation by the National Agricultural Council, as already announced, I have arranged for two eminent consultants from the United States to examine the present organisation of the creamery and milk processing industry and to make recommendations as to the type of reorganisation best calculated to meet the needs of the future. The consultants, who are working in collaboration with a liaison group consisting of representatives of the industry and my Department, commenced their study early in December and their report should be available within a few months.
Could the Minister say why it was necessary to bring in new consultants to advise on a previous consultant's report? The outcome of this, as the Minister knows, is that farmers in many areas will have to accept about 5d per gallon less for their milk than they would otherwise get if they were allowed to instal driers and the equipment they would need.
If it were as simple as that, the driers would have been long since installed, with the alleged benefit that Fine Gael talks about. This is not so, of course, and that is what we are trying to find.
Could the Minister say why it was necessary to bring in extra consultants to advise on a previous consultant's report? The Minister knows this is holding up the whole rationalisation scheme.
A very short reply is that five years have largely been wasted.
By whom?
You name them: I will not.
Who makes the plans?
The Minister for Agriculture.
Do not mind about the Minister for Agriculture. It has nothing to do with him. I thought the Deputy was on the straight and narrow these days.
The point of that obscure observation escapes me but your satellites will laugh in any case.
It has to do with constituencies.
We will be talking about that in a few moments, with the help of God.
Question No. 11.