Vol. 235 No. 3
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if it is proposed to modify the standards of milk which may be sold for human consumption; if so, in what respect; and if steps will be taken to ensure that the public will be sold milk only of the highest quality.
6.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what steps will be taken to remedy the situation in which the standard of a large quantity of milk sold in Leinster is below the legal requirements.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 6 together.
I have at present under examination the question of the minimum standards, administered by local authorities, for the composition of milk sold for human consumption.
I am also considering whether and, if so, what measures should be taken to deal with the situation that at certain times of the year and particularly where feed for livestock may be relatively scarce, some cows produce milk which is not up to the prescribed standards of quality for liquid consumption.
Can the Minister give an assurance that the nutritional value of the milk being provided in the Dublin area is adequate or is the fact that it is below the legal requirement an indication that it is not——
I cannot give any assurances on this matter at all because these are merely reports of surveys that have been carried out and it is rather difficult to be very definite about the actual position.
If governmental assistance would assist the farming community in bringing the milk up to the required standard, would the Government give that assistance in the province of Leinster and in the areas that are supplying the Dublin district?
The fact is that the Government are giving very substantial assistance to the placing of the surplus milk which is a necessary part of the Dublin liquid supply in that where it is not needed for domestic liquid consumption it is being supported as other milk is being supported at the moment.
Is it not virtually certain that the quality defects that have been detected are not calculated to reduce the nutritional value of the milk consumed as milk and probably its only reaction is to reduce its suitability for certain purposes where it is transferred from the liquid milk market into the industrial market?
Again, I would not at all choose to be dogmatic on this matter at the moment.
I am not asking the Minister to be dogmatic.
The Deputy is asking me to agree with something which if I did would be regarded as somewhat dogmatic if it proved to be other than the truth.
The Minister would not like that.
I certainly would not.
