Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

This is the fourth month in a row I have heard this line during Question Time. The reality is farmers are turning in cows morning and evening at a loss. Does the Department have the will and the Minister the political commitment? Is Europe sympathetic to the case he makes to seek a meaningful response to this crisis, which will deliver a price of at least 25 cent or 26 cent a litre? While it may not be easily quantifiable, I would like departmental officials to exercise their minds on what is the tangible benefit of what has been achieved to date? In other words, what price would farmers be paid if these support measures had not been taken?

They are meaningless to farmers. We witnessed the anger of potato farmers towards Tesco yesterday and last week we witnessed the anger towards Tipperary Co-operative Creamery Limited and in Tullamore. I have sympathy for directors of co-operatives because they must take financial decisions, as they cannot trade recklessly. However, they need support in order that they can pay a price to farmers that exceeds the price of production. Can the Minister deliver that at European level?

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