Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I indicated that all of these decisions must be made against the background of what the Commissioner gave as her personal view when she came to Ireland three weeks ago, namely, that the future of quotas was perhaps untenable. Therefore, we, including farmers, must make decisions on the basis of that background — in other words, that we do not have, as the Deputy stated, quota rebels. This is why I have structures to allow that not to happen. That is unfair and we are not ready for that type of open-ended market system. However, we need access to quota and we will have to upscale and support farmers if they are to be competitive and survive.

My personal view is that as one of the most efficient milk dairy farming countries in the European Union, we have great opportunities. When one compares the price of quota in this country, at 12 cent, to the price of €2.50 in the Netherlands, it is clear other colleagues will have greater difficulties. The single farm payment is in place to compensate for income loss.

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