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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 23 Feb 1972

Vol. 259 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dairy Products Industry.

18.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will enumerate the recommendations which were not implemented of the report on each case.

the Dairy Products Industry, commissioned in 1962 in the context of EEC membership; and the reasons in

The survey team on the dairy products industry, established in 1962, made 48 recommendations, the vast majority of which have been implemented to a greater or less degree. Only two of the recommendations have not so far been implemented to any worthwhile extent. These relate to the introduction by the dairying industry of a system of arbitration to deal with disputes over transfer of milk supplies from one creamery to another and the establishment of a permanent controlling superstructure to guide the destinies of the industry. Implementation of these two recommendations is primarily a matter for the industry itself.

Can the Minister state whether the reason why he was able to give the information in response to this question while he was not able to give it in response to the former one is that in the former case they related to his own Department's inaction and in this case they related to the alleged inaction of the industry?

That is the Deputy's assertion, not mine.

An acute observation.

Why does the Minister not publicise all the EEC booklets and leaflets on agriculture? The Commission has provided a number of very useful books on all aspects of agriculture. Why not have such books reprinted here and sent to the different interests all over the country in view of the pending referendum? Surely the Minister will agree that information coming directly from the Commission is likely to be considered more carefully and diligently than the biased information that is coming from those who are in favour of entry and, I could say, those who are against entry?

If the Deputy is referring to the literature that is available with regard to Ireland's entry into EEC I understand that these booklets are readily available.

Question No. 19.

If I were to ask the Minister now for the one from which I have quoted in the Dáil, I bet £5 he could not provide it for me this evening.

I do not know which one the Deputy is talking about.

The Minister states that all such books on agriculture are readily available. They are not readily available because I have tried to get copies of them.

I suggest that the Deputy should go to a library and pursue his search there.

All bets must go through Deputy Coughlan.

All bets must go through a licensed bookmaker.

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