asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether he proposes to hand over to Board Bainne full responsibility for the marketing of dairy products on the home market; and, if not, why.

I do not consider that it would be in the best interests of our dairy products export trade that An Bord Bainne, which was established for the primary purpose of developing and promoting that trade, should become involved in the marketing of dairy products on the home market. The board has, of course, achieved significant success in connection with the sale of Irish butter and cheese on the British market, but there is still scope for the development of some of our other exports of dairy products and, in my view, the board should concentrate upon this rather than involve itself in the home market where the production and marketing of dairy products is largely handled by farmers' co-operative societies, with the participation of the State-owned Dairy Disposal Company in some areas. Such weaknesses as may exist in the present home marketing of butter could, in my opinion, be dealt with by measures of another kind which I have already under consideration.

Will the Minister not agree that with the increased competition from margarine an intensive campaign for the promotion of Irish butter is called for in order that there will not be a loss of income to butter-producing farmers? Does the Minister not consider that the most appropriate and efficient way would be to use an existing agency, namely, Bord Bainne, to undertake this promotion?

It is the Minister's view that this marketing board has sufficient on its hands to deal with the export market without involving itself in home marketing. If it did it would be at the expense of the most efficient creameries who are in this business.