asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that the farmers in Lower Ormonde, County Tipperary, have great difficulty in disposing of their home produced unsalted butter; and, if so, if he will state how this grievance can be remedied and a market obtained for this produce.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Farmers' Butter.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the fact that there is at present no market for farmers' butter in County Wexford; and, if so, whether to prevent further hardship he will arrange for a market at a remunerative price so that the stocks that are accumulating over the county may be disposed of forthwith.
I propose, a Chinn Chomhairle, with your permission to take Questions Nos. 52 and 53 together.
I have received no representations about the position in Lower Ormonde. I am aware, however, that some complaints of difficulty in disposing of farmers' butter have been made in County Wexford and a few other areas.
I am satisfied that there should be no difficulty in disposing of first quality farmers' butter at satisfactory prices and that any difficulties that are being experienced relate to butter of secondary quality, the price for which depends mainly on the price obtainable in export markets. It will, of course, be appreciated that the proportion of the total production of farmers' butter which comes on the market is always small.
I may add that quite recently my Department again offered to arrange for the loan of a travelling creamery to a co-operative creamery operating in South Wexford so as to provide an outlet for any surplus milk in the area, but I understand that the farmers concerned have shown no inclination to avail themselves of the offer, which, however, is still open.
Does the Minister suggest by that reply that farmers' butter in the midland areas, where it cannot now be sold, and in his own native county is inferior to New Zealand butter?
Mr. Walsh
I have said no such thing.
You said it was of secondary quality.
Mr. Walsh
The subsidy was provided by me, last year, for farmers' butter and it is still in operation.
Is it not true that the Minister said, while urging farmers' wives who had butter for sale to avail themselves of the subsidy, that he could not appeal to any butter merchant to buy the butter, so that, in effect, there is a subsidy for farmers' butter in operation but no guarantee that the butter will be bought? Would not Deputy Allen like to ask a question now? He used to be great at asking such questions.
I would like to ask a question.
Is the Minister aware that the creameries in West Cork who used to sell their butter to Messrs. Findlater cannot now market it in Dublin as a result of all the "black" butter that is here in storage?
Is the Minister aware that his predecessor in office did his best to do away with the production of farmers' butter in this country?
Is that the best Deputy Allen can ask?