asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the activities of the British Milk Marketing Board are working against Irish producers in the British market as suggested in a paper (details supplied); and, if so, if he will make representations to the proper authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dairying Industry.
5.
Although the British Milk Marketing Board's manufacturing milk price arrangements can affect adversely the return to Irish producers manufacturing dairy products for sale on the British market, it is not at all clear that these arrangements can be shown to be in contravention of EEC regulations. The prices charged for milk for the various end products to British producers are, of course, kept under close review by my Department and I will not hesitate to make representations to the appropriate authorities if circumstances appear to warrant it.
6.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if a national price for milk in Ireland would help those units with cheese factories as they cannot compete with skim milk plants.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply which I gave to a rather similar question of his on 7th June last when I said that I had already suggested to manufacturers of dairy products that they should consider establishing among themselves a pooling arrangement for milk which would enable the stronger products at any one time to assist those that may be in temporary difficulty. It would, of course, be contrary to EEC regulations for the Government to impose such a system.
As I also told the Deputy on 7th June, I regard the present difficulties being experienced by the cheese industry as being of a temporary nature and I have little doubt that the more normal situation will soon return in which cheese provides a more remunerative return for milk than would the manufacture of butter and skim milk powder for sale to intervention.
Is the Minister aware that the advice he gave in reply to a previous question does not cater for those producers who are producing cheese and nothing else?
I had no other advice to give and I think the Deputy will have to accept that in the circumstances.
What does the producer do? Throw up his hands or shrug his shoulders?
7.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the number of projects relating to the dairy industry for which applications for aid to the FEOGA fund have been made; and if he will name the specific projects and the amount of assistance sought in each case.
Applications for aid totalling £6.1 million from the Guidance Section of FEOGA have been forwarded to the EEC Commission in respect of 17 projects relating to the dairying industry. The applications covered a wide variety of projects for improving and expanding our dairy produce manufacturing facilities, including projects for bulk milk collection, the provision of new plant and equipment and the extension of refrigeration, storage and packaging facilities. Details of the applications cannot be released at this stage.
Could the Minister tell us how much of that £6.1 million originated from the IDA?
I am afraid I cannot give the Deputy that figure. I think I gave the breakdown in reply to another question last week.
The Minister gave us a figure showing that out of £12 million a sum of £8 million originated from the IDA. I was just wondering if the Minister could give us a similar figure in regard to this.
I am afraid I have not got that figure.
Would the Minister think that perhaps the greater part of it originated from the IDA?
I would.