Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Most issues have been dealt with but I wish to return to milk quotas. I raised in the Seanad today the fact that we are 7.1% over quota. In October 2013, we were only 1% over quota. We are facing a super-levy bill of €113 million. I welcome the announcement by the Minister that he may consider a phased payment. It was inevitable this year with milk quotas disappearing next year that people would go into over-production. I disagree with Deputy Ferris in that I believe the payments must by phased over a long period. With the price of milk depressed all the time, possibly going down to 24 cent or 25 cent per litre, it is important for cash flow that the final super-levy bill we are to face in Ireland be phased over a long period. I welcome the Minister's announcement.

On the Russian ban, could I have an update on what we are actually doing to get it lifted? The Minister and his Department are being criticised by the Opposition, in the Seanad and the media, for sitting on their hands while countries such as Denmark, France, Italy and the Netherlands have now got a bilateral agreement with Russia to lift the ban at the end of December. I would like the Minister to make a statement on that.