asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if it is intended to revise the penalties at present prescribed in respect of persons found adulterating milk.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Adulteration.
44.
No change is contemplated in the present arrangement. The question of permitting re-entry to the price support scheme in each case is reviewed from time to time.
Would the Minister agree that in some cases adulteration of milk can be caused by the use of old cooling methods and old milk coolers with running water?
I accept that there are cases of accidental adulteration of milk but it is the responsibility of the individual supplier to see that accidents of this kind are kept to a minimum.
Is the Minister aware that at certain periods when the amount of milk is very small, when you are milking with a milking machine there is bound to be some water in the pipes which may be the cause of the increased water in the milk, and would he agree that even the officers of his Department consider that the penalties are entirely too severe?
The Deputy knows as well as Deputy Corish that there are 57 different varieties of excuses for the adulteration of milk by water. Every case is examined individually but it remains the case that the adulteration of milk by water is a serious offence and will be treated as such.