Mr. Larry Hannon:

I will try to put a face on it. I am farming in south Kildare and we are second generation liquid milk producers. We are passionate about what we do and proud of the quality product we produce. Fresh Milk Producers is involved in negotiating with the processors. The four of us enter talks and negotiate price. It always seems to be a place where one goes in under severe pressure. It never seems to be a place where one goes to negotiate up. It always seems that we have to take less and that the processor and retailer are putting us under more pressure.

What I do is important because we run a family farm and my father is still involved in the business. I hope the next generation will be involved in the business as well. What we do is important to the local economy. If I buy something or put up something, I look to spend my money locally and that is important. Reference was made to the liquid milk plant in Ballytore which supplies much of the country from Cork to Dundalk. That is based beside me and there are 120 jobs there. We are here because we are gasping for air at this stage. We are under pressure and we need something to happen at the top level to filter back down.

We feel vulnerable in the position we are in. If something comes back from the marketplace and someone somewhere in between suggests that we have what we have and they cannot afford to give it to us, then, all of a sudden, we are left with the poor penny again and we have nothing. It is vital that what we are trying to do is backed on a statutory level. The National Milk Agency gives us our contracts and we produce our milk. It looks after that end of it and that is important to us. However, it is important that what we do as farmers is supported up along the line. Statutory backing is important, without restricting us too much. We need support against that background.

We are constantly fighting for sustainability and that is the great problem we have. We are part of a recovery pillar in the country and it is important that the domestic value of the sector continues to be looked on in this way. My milk goes 100 metres to the plant and a further 100 metres to the shop and then the consumer has it. It is milked today and sold tomorrow. It is a business that turns money in the local economy.

I am here to put a face to the problem. I am one of the people struggling but I am passionate about what I do. We produce a quality product and I am proud of what we do as farmers and as Fresh Milk Producers.