Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Cregan for his particular interest in this matter. He has raised the difficulties affecting the dairy sector during the course of this year. It is an issue that has been discussed in this House on many occasions.

On his question on the composition of the group, it comprises mainly different farm organisations, the IFA, the ICMSA, the ICSA, Macra na Feirme, the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society, the Irish Dairy Industries Association and the Irish Dairy Board, Teagasc and some other specialists. All the relevant stakeholders are participating in this group. We have spoken on different occasions about the many challenges and difficulties facing the dairy sector. One of the issues is the area of volatility which needs to be addressed. We had high prices during 2007 but suddenly towards the end of 2008 and during the course of this year there was a huge drop in prices and prices fell below the cost of production. This has caused serious income difficulties for many farmers in Ireland, about whom we are concerned, but also for farmers throughout Europe. During this year there were more Council of Ministers meetings and meetings of particular groups of Ministers.

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