asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that in recent price adjustments the Leinster milk producers' high winter price period was shortened; if he approves of this situation; and, if not, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Leinster Milk Prices.
44.
When I decided to increase the producer's price for liquid milk in the Dublin and Cork areas by 1d a gallon from 1st April, 1965, I considered that this would benefit producers most if it were done by increasing the price by 2d a gallon for the six months October, 1965 to March, 1966, in view of the substantially higher cost of production during the winter period.
Does the Minister not accept what I put to him in my question, namely, the higher price winter period has been shortened?
The Deputy is trying to twist the facts, as usual.
No, I am not.
It is a simple matter of mathematics. If you want to give a penny per gallon for the whole year around, 2d per gallon for the six winter months will achieve that.
I do not know of anybody talking about the penny per gallon except the Minister. What has happened is that 2d per gallon has been given for a shorter period, thus defrauding the farmers of what they thought was 2d per gallon.
The Deputy is talking nonsense. In 1965, I introduced for the first time ever in this country a quality bonus scheme for creamery milk.
Proposed by me three years before.
As a corollary to that, and without being asked for it, I gave this same penny to the liquid milk suppliers. We gave it on the basis of 2d. per gallon for six months, which is equivalent to a penny per gallon for 12 months.
Of course, it is not, because there is a lesser supply in the winter. The Minister would not know much about cows anyway.