andMr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he will ensure that immediate attention is given to the application by producers in one of the two statutory Milk Board Areas (Cork) to the National Prices Commission so that an interruption in supplies to householders will not occur next week.
Private Notice Questions . - Milk Price Increase Applications .
: Applications were received by the National Prices Commission from the Dublin Milk Distributors and from the Pasteurised Milk Bottlers Association for an increase in the retail price of milk and from the National Association of Independent Retailers for an increase in retailers' margins. The National Prices Commission considered these applications at their meeting on 14 October. I have recently received their recommendation for an increase of 1p per pint in the retail price of milk sold throughout the country with effect from 3 November and for an increase in the retailers margin of 2½ p per crate, which amount would be included in the recommended increase of 1p per pint. I propose to accept the recommendation of the National Prices Commission and to amend the Maximum Prices (Milk) Order to implement the recommendation with effect from 27 October.
: Is the Minister aware that the application was made last May and was turned down in the first week in September? I do not know where the Minister got his information, but it is incorrect. The Minister, Deputy O'Malley, and Deputy Meaney of the same Department undertook on 6 September last to the producers in Cork that they would have the matter examined urgently. Nothing has been heard since with the result that there was no milk in Cork yesterday or today and there is a danger that there will be none next week.
: The matter was first considered by the National Prices Commission at the meeting on 7 October——
: That is not correct.
: ——and it was considered by them in conjunction with an application received from the DMD and the National Association of Independent Retailers at their meeting of 14 October. The application from the two latter bodies was not received in the Department until 6 October.
: That is not correct. Deputy O'Malley undertook on 6 September last and Deputy Meaney undertook on 14 September to have the matter examined urgently. That is the matter of an appeal against the refusal for an application in May last.
Dr. Fitzgerald
: It is the Ministers who are relevant and not the Department.
: The formal application was not received until 6 October.
: It was not.
: Will Deputy please ask a question?
: It was in the paper this morning and it is not denied. It is the reason for there being no milk in Cork yesterday and today and for the threatened interruption of supply next week. The Minister's information is not correct and I would ask him to examine the matter this evening to ensure that there is Milk is Cork on Monday next.
: My Department cannot be responsible for supplies. We are responsible for the price increases.
: The Minister gave an undertaking on 6 September and Deputy Meaney gave an undertaking on 14 September.
: According to the information available to me the application came to the Department on 6 October.
Dr. Fitzgerald
: Will the Minister accept that it is the Minister's responsibility and that the question of whether an application comes to the Department is irrelevant when the Minister who is supposed to run that Department makes a decision, receives a request or gives an undertaking? Will the Minister reconsider the wisdom of appearing to denigrate ministerial authority in the way he is doing to suggest that only the Department matter, and that what the Minister says is unimportant?
: There are official channels relating to all this——
Dr. Fitzgerald
: And the Ministers do not matter?
: ——and these have to be followed. Apparently the Prices Commission could not consider this until a formal application was received.
: Ministerial applications mean nothing.
(Interruptions.)
: We will have Deputy FitzGerald's Private Notice Question now.