Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have raised the point here that Mr. Cashman has just made. Part of the scenario is the margins the retailers are taking. I have not seen any feedback on an initiative that was introduced, although the IFA may have got some on it. We saw the pressure English farmers were under with their milk prices. Morrisons, one of the largest retailers in the UK, made a token gesture, whereby they provided an option for their customers when buying milk off their shelves to pay the farmer 10 pence more. I do not know what the response to that initiative has been. Under my colleague's chairmanship, we published a comprehensive report on the retail section in this area. Commissioner Hogan was mentioned. This area is part of his priority and I hope there will be an investigation into the retail sector, especially into below cost selling. Morrisons made a token gesture in giving their customers the option to pay 10 pence more for 1 litre or 2 litres of liquid milk on their shelves, which would support the local farmers. I do not know what was the uptake of that initiative. Has the IFA done any research on that?