Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I have not. I am talking about the reality and dealing with it needs action and that will be provided in consultation with the stakeholders.

We are seriously concerned about outcomes for small farmers and for young farmers. That is the reason this open market system is operated within the co-ops and that ring fencing is not being removed. It would be easy to go into an open market and allow a free-for-all, but that is not in the best interests of the sector. If we are to be prepared for the competitive nature of the dairy industry and to sustain it, most particularly when the market supports are being removed, we must have a pro-active initiative within the sector to allow for scale, to allow those who wish to retire the opportunity to do so with a proper income and, in particular, to protect the most efficient who often are the smaller to middle-sized operators.

I will consult. Consultations have taken place with the stakeholders. The Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Smith, and I will meet the co-operatives as well as the farming organisations. We will take into consideration their concerns. We will not allow a free-for-all or a situation where just because a person has money, he or she can have access to quota. All of that must be done within a proper framework. When we speak of regulation and over-regulation, it is about time we allow farmers to predetermine, not to be told how they should do their business, and allow them that freedom to farm. I will certainly take into consideration many of the concerns which need to be addressed in the context of this new policy framework.

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