asked the Minister for Agriculture, in view of the relatively low incomes of dairy farmers on island holdings, if agreement to a substantial increase in the butter and milk subsidy will be given.

As a result of the agreement by the EEC Council of Ministers last June on agricultural prices for the current year, the subsidy which island milk producers receive on their skim milk used for animal feeding was increased by about 1 p per gallon in July. This subsidy was again slightly increased as a result of the Green £ adjustment earlier this month and at over 17p per gallon is now about 7.5 per cent higher than the preJuly rate. This level of aid is similar to that paid to mainland creameries in respect of skim milk taken back by their suppliers for animal feeding.

I am at present having the arrangements under which a guaranteed price is paid for farm butter produced on the islands reviewed.

It is very difficult to hear the Minister and perhaps he would raise his voice a little.

It is impossible. It is not the Minister's fault but is the fault of the system.

Will the Minister not accept that farmers on island holdings producing milk and butter are receiving little more than 60 per cent of the price obtaining on the mainland? Will he accept that it is completely unfair that such a position should obtain in respect of island farmers, the smallest holders of all and who mainly have uneconomic holding?

Would he further accept that I have made repeated representations year after year in the Dáil, the last of them last year, and that the position was to be reviewed and that the 16.92 pence per gallon for skim milk which was the only subsidy available to them falls far short of the figure available for milk produced on mainland holdings?

That is a speech.

No, it was a series of questions. The Ceann Comhairle should examine things a little closer.

The Ceann Comhairle is concerned with making progress with Question Time.

The milk is——

Could the Minister speak a little louder?

——used specially and manufactured into butter by the farmers themselves of whom there are 20. The subsidy for the skim milk they get back to feed their animals has increased at a rate of 7.5 per cent since last July. The Deputy asked if I would have the situation reviewed and I am glad to assure him that it is being reviewed at the moment. I do not believe it should take an inordinate length of time having regard to the number of people involved in this case.

Is the Minister seriously asserting that an increase of 7.5 per cent on 16 pence per gallon is adequate? Would he answer my question: is it fair that island milk producers, irrespective of the number involved, should produce milk for 60 per cent of the price obtainable on the mainland? Is that justice for island holders? Or does the Minister want to put them off milk production altogether?

As I have already said, I am having the matter examined to see if it would be possible to pay more for the farmers' butter on this island. The amount of subsidies on the skim milk produced by these farmers is very substantial and has been increased very substantially since last July.

Am I to understand in this connection that the Minister will review the price being paid for the butter?

It is being done at the moment.

I shall ask the Minister again about this later on.