Vol. 222 No. 14
andMr. McAuliffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether, as a result of a complaint by a small number of milk suppliers in 1960, an extended special investigation was made into the sampling and testing of milk at a co-operative creamery (name supplied); and whether his Department sent a letter dated 29th September, 1961, to the Chairman of the society stating that on no occasion during the investigation was any sample found to have been inaccurately tested.
10.
andMr. McAuliffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether, despite the negative result of an investigation carried out in 1960-61, a further and more specialised investigation of a co-operative creamery (name supplied) beginning on 1st April, 1966, was carried out by an inspector specially drafted for the purpose without any explanation to the creamery management; whether this second investigation also showed that the work of the creamery was carried on in a proper manner; whether this second investigation was carried out as the result of a complaint; and, if so, by whom.
11.
andMr. McAuliffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether, at the time when two investigations into sampling were being carried out by his Department at a co-operative creamery (name supplied), as a result of complaint by a small number of milk producers, samples were taken from the milk of the complaining suppliers on 11th July, 1961, and 21st June, 1965; whether these samples contained 2.9 per cent and 2.85 per cent butter fat respectively; and whether this percentage of butter fat at that season of the year indicated that butter fat had been abstracted or that the milk had been adulterated in some manner.
12.
andMr. McAuliffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will state fully the policy of his Department regarding the testing and investigation of complaints against creameries, stating in particular on what criteria complaints are judged as being worthy of investigation; and whether in making investigation of creameries he takes into account that repeated investigations, however negative their result, are damaging to the good name of the creamery concerned.
I propose with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 9 to 12 together.
Creameries are required to pay their suppliers for milk on the basis of its butter-fat content and it is, therefore, very important not only that the butter-fat testing of milk be accurately performed at creameries but also that suppliers who have any doubts in the matter can have the testing by creameries independently verified. It is accordingly the practice of my Department to have the butter-fat testing at all creamery premises check-tested as a matter of routine and also to have special check-tests carried out as necessary to reassure any suppliers who may have doubts as to the accuracy of the creamery testing in their particular cases. No criteria are laid down for the acceptance by my Department of requests for check-testing, and the general aim is to satisfy any such request which is not clearly unreasonable. Apart from meeting the wishes of the suppliers concerned, these check-tests serve to reassure the creamery societies that they are discharging their duties towards their members. I could not accept therefore that my Department's practice in this matter is in any way damaging to the creamery societies concerned.
The 1960-61 series of special check-tests at the creamery concerned in these Questions was undertaken following a request made on behalf of a group of the suppliers, and my Department was able to advise the Chairman of the Society on 29th September 1961, that on no occasion during the series of tests was any sample found to have been inaccurately tested. The April, 1966, check-tests were carried out following requests made by an association of farmers in the area, and once again the tests confirmed the accuracy of the creamery's testing.
As regards the samples of milk found on 11th July 1961 and 21st June 1965 to contain 2.9 per cent and 2.85 per cent butter-fat, respectively, I am advised that such low butter-fat content need not necessarily have been due to any cause such as is suggested in the question. Butter-fat content is subject to wide variations depending not only on the period of the year but also on such factors as the breed of cow, the length of time since calving, and the general level of nutrition.
