asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether he will now take steps to increase the price paid for milk supplied to creameries so as to give farmers the cost of production and a reasonable profit in view of his replies to questions on the 14th February which disclosed (i) that the exports of butter from this country last year were 61,646 cwt. and imports to date 50,000 cwt., and (ii) that, owing to the small quantity of butter in cold store coupled with the very low production at present, it may be necessary to import considerably more than was exported, and at a higher price.

As I informed Deputies Smith and Patrick D. Lehane, in reply to questions on this subject asked by them on the 14th and 21st instant, no change in creamery milk prices is in contemplation.

Does the Minister think it is more economic to import inferior butter?