asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has any plans to establish independent butter fat testing facilities for milk supplies of dairy manufacturing plants.
4.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Butter Fat Testing.
3.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if his attention has been drawn to a recent newspaper article concerning the butter fat levels of milk supplied to co-operatives; if he is satisfied that his dairy inspectorate is carrying out a sufficient range and frequency of tests to ensure that farmers are getting an accurate measurement of the butter fat content of their creamery milk supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
The responsibility for the testing of milk for butter fat and making payment to producers rests with the co-operatives which, as the Deputy is aware, are owned and controlled by the milk producers themselves.
My Department carry out spot checks of the samples taken by the co-operatives from the milk delivered to them so as to ensure that the methods used by co-operatives for payment on a butter fat basis are fair and accurate. I am satisfied that the range and frequency of these check tests are satisfactory. Producers may also, on payment of a nominal fee, have a private check test carried out by the Department on a confidential basis.
Is the Minister trying to create the impression that all the milk outlets here are owned by the co-operatives? Can he tell us the number of inspectors in his Department who are on constant butter fat testing, the number of times they visit each creamery monthly and what is the average variable figure allowed by his inspectorate over the past year with regard to butter fat testing in all milk outlets?
In answer to the Deputy's first question, I refer him to his original question which refers to milk supplied to co-operatives, and that is what I have answered. In reply to the second part of the question, I know there has been a controversy in the newspapers regarding the butter fat content of milk. This controversy arose in September of this year. In that month my Department's inspectors checked approximately 84 random samples of suppliers' milk in the Kerry Co-operative alone and the results did not disclose any irregularity. Between January and October 1983 a total of 455 samples also taken at random were check-tested and all of these were also found to be satisfactory.
Is the Minister satisfied that his inspectorate is large enough for this type of work?
Yes, and as I said in my reply, if anybody is not happy that person can request an inspection by my Department's inspectors at that person's own expense.
Is the Minister aware that there is widespread dissatisfaction with the present system of testing? The system of testing carried out is a bimonthly, two-fortnightly test and the least a farmer should be entitled to is the knowledge of his test after the first two weeks and again after the second two weeks. In practice it is the 20th of the following month before a farmer knows the test result for the previous month. Further, was it not suspicious that butter fat levels increased sharply for October as compared with the figures for September?
No discrepancies were discovered when the numerous random tests were made.
Were the tests carried out on farmers' supplies or on creamery supplies?
They do a cross-check with the creameries. However, I will bear in mind what the Deputy has said.
I appeal to the Minister to set up an independent system for all creameries. There is dissatisfaction throughout the dairy industry for many years because of the out-of-date, Victorian system in the co-operative groups.
The Deputy will have an opportunity to make a speech in the Adjournment Debate.
Will the Minister consider what I have said?
I do not want to lead the Deputy astray by saying I will establish an independent examining agency. Much as we might like it, it would prove extremely costly. We find the present system reasonably satisfactory.
Arising from the Minister's initial reply, will the Minister tell the House the number of inspectors involved in butter fat testing? I have already asked that question. Further, will he state if he has any plans to establish independent butter fat testing?
I do not have that information. Contrary to what the Deputy has said, that information was not requested in the original question.
The questions not answered will go for written replies. If Deputies want an opportunity to ask supplementary questions they should allow Question Time to proceed.
Will the Minister agree to have his inspectors carry out spot checks at farm level rather than carrying out checks on the factory floor?
Deputy Walsh asked me that question and I promised I would look into that aspect.
Will the Minister confirm if all outlets who purchase milk are checked monthly, annually or otherwise?
If that does not happen at the moment I will see it is done. As I stated at the outset, the original question merely referred to co-operatives.