asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state to what purpose he intends to apply the moneys collected on the levy on creamery butter manufactured during the current year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Creamery Butter Levy.
22.
My intention is to apply the moneys collected through the levy on creamery butter to the purpose for which the levy was instituted.
In view of the negligible exports of creamery butter this year, will the Minister consider refunding the money to the milk producers?
I am not without hope that at some future date exports will be available and, as I said in reply to the Deputy's question, the money will be applied to the purpose for which it was collected.
Would the Minister not agree that the money was collected in the belief expressed by the Minister in this House that there would be exports of creamery butter this year and, having regard to the fact that the exports are practically nil, would he not now be prepared to consider refunding this year's levy money to the producers?
A Minister has, of course, to consider everything but I do not think that the money is likely to burn a hole in our pockets in the sense that whatever amount is there will probably be useful to us in the near future and if it should transpire that, in future, butter can be exported without subsidy or assistance of any kind, then we can have another look at things.
Would the Minister agree that, as the purpose of the levy was to reduce production, it has achieved its object?
If the Deputy would try to talk common sense and not nonsense he might be more interesting.
Would the Minister be good enough to tell us the amount that was collected by means of the levy?
I shall take that question next week if the Deputy puts it down.
Surely the Minister has the information there?
I have not the figure now. I cannot carry these figures.
I shall look for it next week.