asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he will give, in detail, the steps he proposes to take to require the Dairy Disposals Board to carry out a milk pasteurisation scheme in Cork in the event of the milk producers not doing so, and in particular if he will state whether he intends to introduce proposals for legislation to oblige the board to carry out a scheme or will utilise existing powers for the purpose, and if the latter, whether he will specify precisely the powers he so intends to use.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cork Milk Pasteurisation Scheme.
The Deputy's question appears to proceed from the supposition that the milk producers will not undertake the pasteurisation. I do not know what ground the Deputy has for supposing that this will be their attitude. Until it becomes clear that the local producers are not prepared to accept the Minister's invitation, the question of the Dairy Disposal Company undertaking the business does not arise. No new legislation would be necessary to enable the Dairy Disposal Company to undertake the pasteurisation of milk in Cork, should it become necessary to ask the company to do so.
Might I ask the Parliamentary Secretary is he aware that in one season in Montreal 5,000 people died from drinking pasteurised milk?