Vol. 178 No. 1
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether the recommendation of the Flour and Bread Inquiry, 1949, that Governmental policy regarding flour milling should be examined in the light of the costings, has been carried out; and, if so, whether this examination was carried out with the assistance of a uniform costing system.
40.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether in view of the fact that in paragraph 56, page 48, of the report of the Flour and Bread Inquiry, 1949, and in paragraph 59, page 59, of the final report of the Flour and Bread Committee, 1956, it was strongly recommended that in the interests of the control and limitation of milling expenditure a uniform milling costing system be introduced, and in view of the continued increase in the price of bread, he will take the steps necessary to insist that such uniformity will be introduced without delay in this vital national industry.
With the permission of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together.
The recommendation that millers be required to adopt a uniform costing system was not accepted by the Government and consequently Government policy has not been decided in the light of such costings.
I do not consider that the imposition of a uniform costing system in the milling industry would be warranted.
Is it not true that the majority of these commissions and committees inquiring into the milling industry over many years have pointed out that a uniform costing system is the only way in which it would be possible to eliminiate inefficient mills and so reduce the price of the end product to the consumer?
On examination of the reports of these commissions it has been found that their suggestions in that respect are not practicable. Furthermore the Deputy happened to be a member of the Government which examined one of these reports in 1949.
There is no reason why the Minister should be bound by any decision taken by another Government.
No.
Surely it is not suggested that a complete overhaul of the machinery in such a case as this would be on the shoulders of a particular Minister rather than on the Cabinet as a whole? Is it not a fact that the most inefficient unit in the milling industry is being taken as the basis of assessment as a result of which those other mills working efficiently are making profits completely out of proportion in so far as the return to the consumer is concerned? Is the Minister aware that in rural Ireland as a result of this scandalous state of affairs we have ten, 12 and 14 bakeries coming into small villages? Does the Minister consider that is an economical proposition and that the public are getting a fair deal in relation to the price of bread? You have all these bakeries coming into small villages with no difference whatever in the price of the commodity offered.
Does the Minister concede there are uneconomic mills at the moment in the milling industry and does he concede that any lack of efficiency in the operation of these mills is paid for by the consumer?
I do not accept the contention of either Deputy. I am satisfied there is a degree of competition in the industry which makes the commodity available at fair prices.
Nonsense.
Does the Minister concede there are uneconomic mills in the milling industry?
Question No. 41.
Does the Minister concede that?
I have called question No. 41.
Does he concede that inefficiency is paid for by the old age pensioner and other unfortunate sections of the community?
