asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the prospects for producing and selling butter at a lucrative price.
25.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dairy Produce Disposal.
24.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement on the prospects for the disposal of milk powder, and the supplies that exist within the EEC at present.
26.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the prospects of producing and selling casein at a lucrative price.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 25 and 26 together.
The prospects for the production and sale of butter at a lucrative price in 1975 are quite good and it is expected that our total production will be marketed at satisfactory prices and without recourse to intervention selling.
In the case of skim milk powder, supplies are at present in excess of commercial demand and the prospects for the coming season are not very encouraging. It is expected that a considerable proportion of this year's output will have to be sold to intervention in this country as well as in other Community states. Total intervention stock of skim milk powder held in the Community as at 23 April, 1975 was 491,803 metric tons. Prospects for the sale of full-cream milk powder, production of which in Ireland is relatively small, have improved with the recent substantial increase in the level of the export subsidy granted by the EEC Commission. In the casein sector, world demand at the existing level of prices is weak and some of the major producer countries hold large unsold stocks. The prospects, therefore, for the production and sale of this commodity at lucrative prices are poor at present.