asked the Minister for Agriculture whether any progress has been made with the preparation of a new scheme for the Cow Testing Associations; and, if so, whether he has any statement to make in regard to it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cow Testing Associations.
I have not yet secured general agreement on an integrated scheme of milk recording but I am still trying.
Would the Minister say there is any genuine prospect of getting agreement along these lines? I have no doubt the Minister is aware that during both my periods of office, I was in pursuit of that hope and signally failed to achieve it. Is there any future prospect of achieving agreement?
I have sought to secure agreement by every means in my power that I thought was reasonable and I found that, on the approaches we made, some were prepared to accept them and some were not. I have no compulsory powers and, therefore, I can only continue to do as I am doing. All I can say is that I am not without hope that we shall get an agreed solution of the problem.