asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the quantity of butter in cold store for each of the months November and December, 1946, and January, 1947, and also the quantity of butter in cold store during each of the months November and December, 1947, and January, 1948, and further if he is aware that the production of butter for January, 1948, was double that for January, 1947, and, if so, what factors were responsible for that increase.

The amounts of creamery butter in cold store in the months mentioned in the question were, in round numbers, as follows:—

Production in January, 1947, was abnormally low owing to the scarcity of feeding following the bad hay crop of 1946 and the very severe weather of the month itself. This year weather conditions were good, keep was adequate as a result of the good hay crop of 1947, and production was somewhat better than average.

But production was more than doubled last year.

The cows must have known that you were going out of office.

It is a most deceitful reply.

I beg Deputy Lemass's pardon?

The Minister's statement that production was somewhat better than the average is deceitful, having regard to the fact that it was more than doubled.

Are you claiming credit for that?

You cannot, anyhow.

The customary courtesy of the Deputy is remarkable by its absence.