Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 14 Feb 1951

Vol. 124 No. 1

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Milk.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will now state the price per gallon creamery milk suppliers may expect for the 1951 season and if it is his intention to recommend again to the industry his scheme of last year guaranteeing a price of one shilling per gallon for a five-year period.

In regard to the first part of the Deputy's question no change is in contemplation. As regards the second part of the question, my recommendation to the industry to resume its full freedom, subject to a long-term minimum price guarantee, is more obviously sound to-day than it was 12 months ago.

Can the Minister give an assurance to the House that, should home production fall below home requirements, he will be able to purchase the extra butter required from the Danes and the New Zealanders in 1951?

We produced more butter in Ireland in the last calendar year, and we consumed more butter in Ireland in the last calendar year, than in any year since Brian Boru was slain at the Battle of Clontarf. I do not, therefore, propose to devise a reply to the Deputy's hypothetical question on the assumption that we will not continue to progress in this eminently satisfactory direction.

I have asked the Minister for information, for an assurance that, should production here fall below home requirements, we will be able to import butter from Denmark?

I am not going to try to find excuses as answers to hypothetical questions, particularly in view of the reassuring information which I have given to the Deputy.

May I ask the Minister——

Barr
Roinn