asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the effect, if any, his decision to grant a licence to Monaghan Co-Operative to sell liquid milk in the Dublin area will have on prices to producers and costs to customers and distributors in the Leinster area; whether there is likely to be any detrimental change in the degree of service to customers such as the availability of fresh milk on a daily basis; whether, following the granting of the licence to the Town of Monaghan Co-op to sell liquid milk in the Dublin area and the recent decision by Golden Vale to do likewise, there will be any substantial changes in the production, sale and distribution of milk in the country; if producers in the Leinster area can now sell throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Monaghan Co-Operative Milk Distribution Licence.
The licence recently granted to the Town of Monaghan Co-operative under section 32 of the Milk (Regulation of Supply and Price) (Amendment) Act, 1941, should have no effect on prices, costs or the level of service to customers. The co-operative had already been supplying milk in the Dublin Milk Board area. The licence merely means that they can now supply the very limited volume of milk involved from their producers resident outside the Dublin area rather than being confined to producers registered with the board as hitherto. Otherwise the co-op are required to meet the same conditions as other co-operatives and dairies registered with the Dublin board. Producers within the Dublin or Cork board areas are not prevented from selling their milk in any other part of the country.
I decided to grant the licence as an interim measure pending the outcome of the negotiations concerning a new national milk arrangement which we are having with the EC Commission. I am hopeful that these negotiations will be concluded in the near future.
In the meantime an application for a similar licence recently received from Golden Vale Co-operative is under examination.