Enforcement of the 1925 Milk Act
Noonan alleged that failure to implement the Act’s constituent-based payment rules was causing unfair competition in the milk war. Deasy rejected the claim that this was a major factor and said he intended to legislate for realistic penalties, while also considering enforcement of the existing law.
(Limerick West): The Minister should give clear leadership on this issue from the point of view of the farmers, the co-ops and the workers. Is the Minister aware that the major problem in regard to this milk war is the unfair competition in so far as he and the Department reneged on the implementing of the 1925 milk Act? I understand that one co-op is not paying for milk on a constituent basis as specified in the Act. Does the Minister intend doing something about that in order to eliminate the unfair competition that exists?
Comment on this
I reject the allegation that this had a major impact on what is happening. It is a matter of opinion as to why people are changing. It may be that the butterfat content of the milk of those who are changing is quite high. Nobody can tell me that it is lower and that that is why they are changing, as insinuated by the Deputy.