Vol. 395 No. 6
100 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline his proposals in relation to the privatisation of the Dublin District Milk Board, with particular reference to the present conditions, pay scales and pensions of the staff of the board; and when it is expected that the board will be privatised.
Following the receipt of the new ruling of the EC Commission that the continued operation of the Cork and Dublin district milk boards could not be justified under Community law, the Government decided that the boards should be dissolved and replaced by a national milk agency which would regulate the liquid milk market on a countrywide basis.
The Government also decided that the boards' assets in ancillary activities, such as AI and milk recording, should be disposed of. I am at present examining, in consultation with the Minister of Finance, how this should be done and a decision will be made on this matter as soon as possible. It is my intention that as many as possible of the existing staff of the boards will be re-employed by whatever organisation takes over the services involved.
