asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is satisfied with the progress to date of the campaign to promote the sales of milk and dairy products on the home market; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to increase the consumption of these products on the home market.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk and Dairy Products.
30.
So long as it is necessary to export thousands of tons of butter to foreign markets at prices of less than 1/- per lb., I could not claim to be completely satisfied with the position in regard to the levels of consumption of dairy products on the home market. However, our levels of consumption of most dairy products other than cheese are already high by international standards, and in the case of cheese consumption there has been a steady upward trend. The National Dairy Council is actively engaged in promoting the sales of dairy products on the home market and the Exchequer contribution to the council has been increased in the current year to enable it to expand its promotional efforts.
Some time ago I arranged for closer attention to be given to the activities of butter packers and I am now considering possible new arrangements under which packers for the home market would be required to obtain their supplies of butter from An Bord Bainne. This would contribute towards raising still further the standard of quality of our butter and consequently to increased consumption at home.