asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will state the total number of applications received from suppliers to the Dairy Disposal Company Creameries in County Kerry, for an increase in payment for milk supplied during the months of July and August, 1971, due to an industrial dispute between the company and the assistant managers; and the reason for the delay in compensating the suppliers.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Kerry Creamery Reorganisation.
17.
My Department has not received any applications in this matter, which is one for settlement between the milk suppliers concerned and the Dairy Disposal Company.
18.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that a deputation from the Listowel, County Kerry, consultative committee of the Dairy Disposal Company group of creameries was received by officials from his Department on 19th July last and got an assurance from them that they would arrange an early meeting with officers of the company; and, if so, if he will indicate the reason for the delay in arranging this meeting.
19.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he received a request from the Mid-Kerry Milk Producers' Association (details supplied) to receive a deputation in connection with the taking over of creameries; and, if so, if he will indicate when it is proposed to receive the deputation.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 19 together.
The question of co-operative acquisition of certain of the Dairy Disposal Company's creameries in County Kerry was the main subject of discussion with a deputation from the mid-Kerry groups of milk suppliers which I received last June and with the Listowel deputation which was received by officials of my Department in July. My views on the general question of reorganisation of the creamery industry in County Kerry and transfer to co-operative ownership of the Dairy Disposal Company's interests there were indicated at a press conference on 10th October. As I said then there is no bar to the purchase of the Dairy Disposal Company's creameries by co-operative groups of suppliers under a comprehensive rationalisation scheme and the most satisfactory ultimate solution in County Kerry would, in my view, be one co-operative society for the whole county.
I would suggest that the best course of action now for the groups referred to by the Deputy would be to seek to formulate together a comprehensive scheme for take-over of the company's creamery interests in the county with a view to the ultimate formation of one co-operative society for the whole county.
For the record, I should add that at the meeting in July with the deputation from Listowel, no assurance was given about arranging for a meeting with the Dairy Disposal Company.
Has the Minister asked the Dairy Disposal Company to give producers an assurance that the price at which the creameries at present operated by the Dairy Disposal Company can be taken over by the producers will be a reasonable one and will take into account the contribution farmers have made in this connection?
The assurance that the Dairy Disposal Company and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will be reasonable in this regard is standard.
It is not well accepted around the country.