Vol. 226 No. 12
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he intends to change the Gerber system of butter fat testing for a newer and more efficient mechanised system which can be performed by the creamery manager or his assistants in full view of the supplier.
13.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries when he proposes to set up a group to investigate the present method for sampling and testing the butter fat content of milk at creameries; and if the Dairy Farmers Association have the right to nominate one or two of their own members for this group.
14.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he proposes to instruct the Dairy Disposal Company creameries to allow farmers to take their own samples of milk for independent butter fat testing.
15.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement about the refusal of Dromtarriffe co-operative creamery, County Cork to give a milk sample to one of their own members for independent butter fat testing.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose taking Questions Nos. 12 to 15 together.
I hope to complete in the near future the arrangements for the establishment of the study group which is to examine various matters in connection with the testing of milk delivered to creameries. It is my intention to invite the Dairy Farmers Association to nominate a representative on the group.
The other matters mentioned by the Deputy are the type of matter which the group will examine and I do not consider that it would be appropriate for me to modify the existing milk testing arrangements in advance of the group's examination.
