asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries in what circumstances he is entitled to make deductions from State subsidies on creamery milk.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Creamery Milk Subsidy.
9.
Deductions from State subsidies on creamery milk may be made in the event of noncompliance with the conditions applicable to the payment of those subsidies.
That is a very unsatisfactory reply. Is it not a fact that a deduction in one case I have in mind was a deduction of £200 and is that not something that arose out of the farmers' rights campaign?
The what?
The farmers' rights campaign, as it is described.
The Deputy had better tell us about that.
One man's milk was not collected.
Two men's, but it was cow's milk.
The Minister is getting very clever.
How does the Minister feel justified in penalising the many people in that creamery who had no connection whatever with stopping the collection of the supply of milk? Furthermore, had the people who normally collected that milk any contract with those concerned, because my information is that they had no contract whatever and could not be compelled to collect anybody's milk?
Does the Deputy believe that the collector should be compelled not to collect milk?
I do not.
Neither do I.
Question No. 10.
My question has not been answered. I have asked the Minister where did he get his authority in these circumstances and he might tell me, when he is answering, what did it cost per gallon in this case to collect this milk.
The Minister has the right to make regulations from time to time in regard to the payment of this production allowance which is now standing at 7d. One of the matters which was brought to the attention of this creamery and all others was that where there was any intimidation attempted and where, as a result of that intimidation, the milk of any supplier failed to be collected, then the cost of alternative methods of delivery would be deducted from the allowance payable to that creamery. In this case there were two such people; it happened for only a very short time because it got through to those who would do otherwise. I have no apologies whatever to make for doing this. I think I had every right to do it on behalf of the people who pay the piper, in this case the taxpayers, whose money was being paid to a creamery who by various means were causing intimidation to the point where their collector refused to collect milk from certain people because they would not join a particular organisation.
If a small number of people are responsible for this, how does the Minister feel justified in penalising all? Secondly, was this intimidation proved in court?
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Is the Minister not penalising innocent people in this case?
The Deputy is much too innocent altogether.
Is it not a fact that the cost was 5s 11d per gallon?
I do not give two hoots if it was 11s 5d per gallon. Why did the Deputy not raise this when it was a live issue instead of coming along now and raising it when it is dead?
We were giving the Minister time to cool down.
Why does he take it up now and will the Deputy tell me whom he is now bleeding for?
We are here to ask questions.
The Minister is there to answer them.
And to ask them when it is necessary.
(Interruptions.)
If the House does not want to know and if the Deputy does not want to know, all right. The Deputy now raises this matter and he bleeds for the many, when this has been brought about by the few. As I understand it, creameries are co-operatives in all cases. The creamery, I take it, controls the collection of the milk which is brought to them——
No.
No contract.
Who pays them?
The creamery.
Whoever pays usually controls.
Not in the case of a co-operative.
When you and your Coalition colleagues have decided among yourselves——
(Interruptions.)
Have you taken over from the Taoiseach yet?
Question No. 10.
I work for my Leader, not against him, like the Deputy.
Which leader? The Minister proposed Deputy Boland against Deputy Lynch some years ago.
Do not be codding yourself.
(Interruptions.)
I think the Minister is really working for the Minister for Finance, Deputy Haughey, the Golden Boy.
Will Deputies please allow questions to continue? Question No. 10.
Could I answer the Minister?
There is no need to answer the Minister.
This has already cost them several hundred pounds in interest, plus £200 for carriage.
I have no intention of paying it, if that is what the Deputy wants to know.
(Interruptions.)
It has nothing to do with politics and the Deputy knows it. He should not be making a fool of himself.
Will Deputies cease interrupting and allow questions to continue?