Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

There is concern about the serious financial losses being suffered, particularly in 2009, by the dairy sector. The milk rights group is holding meetings all around the country and dairy farmers are flocking to those meetings in large numbers. They are expressing a level of support for the agenda the milk rights group is advancing. Whether one agrees with the agenda or not, it is an important voice in the context of the CAP post-2013 and the critical months that lie ahead. To use the old maxim, when formulating a policy everyone can subscribe to, it is better to have the group inside the tent, where its ideas can be bounced off others and we can secure the distilled wisdom of all partners. I urge the Minister, even at this late stage, to take on board the criticisms. These people might be considered as mavericks but they represent a large number of disaffected dairy farmers who feel the current regime is not listening to them. The Minister is exposing himself to the marginalisation of a sector that enjoys increasing numbers and momentum and he should give these people a seat at the table so we can secure the distilled wisdom of all partners.

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