Richard Bruton
Ceist:7 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the financial performance of the Dublin District Milk Board for each of the years from 1989 to 1992.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin District Milk Board.
During the three years 1989, 1990 and 1991 the Dublin District Milk Board incurred losses of £28,189, £189,980 and £190,546 respectively. Audited accounts are not yet available for 1992.
Would the Minister share my concern in relation to the financial performance of the Dublin District Milk Board and will he confirm that the regulations and the structure of the board are in breach of EC regulations and that a national milk agency should be established without delay? Given that this was promised when the Minister was first appointed and promised by his predecessor, what is the reason for this delay? Will he now act on the matter?
Yes, I am concerned about this matter. There is a further question on the establishment of a national milk agency on the agenda and I will deal more fully with the matter then. Obviously when figures go from £28,000 to £189,000 to £190,000 over three consecutive years, that is a cause for concern. I will be glad to answer Deputy Yates's question in more detail when replying to the other question.
I understand the Minister's Department is conducting negotiations with staff representatives of the Dublin District Milk Board. Would he outline at what stage these negotiations are and whether they are coming to finality?
I introduced this legislation in the Seanad some considerable time ago, where Second Stage was passed. Discussions have been taking place for some time with the staff and the unions to find a resolution to the problem. I concur with that action. My latest information is that the last meeting took place at the end of January and a final meeting is to take place within the next three weeks to finalise that matter in relation to the staff. We can then proceed with the legislation.