asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether, in view of the unilateral action of the French Government in granting increases to their farmers, he will forthwith take similar action in respect of Irish farmers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farm Price Increases.
21.
The French action related to the price of liquid milk for direct consumption. I myself have also announced an interim increase in the minimum prices to producers of milk for the liquid trade.
If this increase can be granted unilaterally in even one instance, can it not be applied to all other commodities by the Minister.
The Deputy should know that liquid milk does not come under the common agricultural pricing system. The French Minister could have increased the price of liquid milk in France by 26 per cent provided the people were prepared to buy it. There is no contribution from FEOGA—that makes the difference. He did not apply it to processing. We increased the price of milk by 8 per cent and he increased it by 6 per cent.
The French Minister and our Minister recognise that an increase is badly needed. Is this not a strong reason why our Minister should not wait any longer but should grant increases to producers of other commodities who need them as much as the liquid milk producers.
As the Deputy knows there has been a decision to make the price of milk for processing and the price for beef retrospective to 3rd March. That is already fixed and whatever increase is agreed upon will go back to that date. That can be applied to milk products but it cannot be given retrospectively for liquid milk.