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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Feb 1962

Vol. 193 No. 5

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Meath Dried Milk Factory.

36.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if representations have been made to him to establish a dried milk factory in County Meath; and, if so, what the position is in the matter.

The reply to the first part of the Question is "No". In any event, if it was decided to establish such a factory in this country the question of its location would be primarily a matter for decision by the promoters of the project.

Is the Minister telling the House that no outside body made any representations to him for the necessary assistance to start a dried milk factory in County Meath?

He is telling the House no such thing.

That is the answer the Minister gave me.

I beg the Deputy's pardon. The Deputy asked me "if representations have been made to him to establish a dried milk factory in County Meath." The answer is "no". The question continues: "and, if so, what the position is in the matter". I could not have answered the Deputy's question any more fully.

Would the Minister be good enough to give the information I asked for or do I have to phrase my question in a different way for next week?

I have no hesitation at all; I have no desire in the world to deny information which is common to everybody and which has appeared in the public Press that an outside concern approached us some time ago with a view to establishing a milk processing plant and that the firm's overtures were very welcome to us.

They left without making a final decision and they are still in correspondence with us. In any event, if it is decided to establish such a plant in this country, the question of its location would be primarily a matter for the promoters of the project. If I have denied the Deputy this information then he did not ask for it.

Thank you. The Minister has now given me the information I asked for.

Is the Minister aware that there is a potential of 25,000,000 gallons of milk available in the Leinster milk-producing area for processing? Is the Minister also aware that the Dublin District Milk Board has a big say in how that should be disposed of?

Is the Minister aware that it is in the quality of the milk that the people concerned are interested?

The Minister is aware that it is quite legitimate for any Deputy to drive home his point here in the hope that, when a decision is arrived at, the plant might be located in his own area.

Question No. 37 withdrawn.

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