asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state (a) the total quantity of butter required to maintain the eight ounce ration for 12 months, including the ration of butter for creamery milk suppliers which they were receiving for a number of years and which was denied them in June, 1950; (b) the quantity of imported butter he estimates it will be necessary to import to supply the foregoing ration and the approximate import price.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Butter Ration.
(a) 740,000 cwts. (b) Present indications are that it may be necessary to supplement home production by the importation of about 3,000 tons.
Danish butter?
Mr. Walsh
The exact quantity to be imported will, of course, depend on whether the weather during the remainder of the season is favourable to milk production. I am not in a position at present to say what will be the price of such supplies as it may be necessary to import.
Surely the Minister cannot have the intention of importing more Danish butter?
A Deputy
We will get gas-masks instead.
The Minister has himself denounced it here in the House.
Might I inquire if this is a further lump of Fianna Fáil policy that is going overboard?
The residue of the Coalition policy.
Fie, fie.
You will pay 3/6 a lb. for it.
Would the Minister say if it is his intention to export creamery butter this year in the same quantities as it was exported last year?