Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

Is the Minister concerned that if the trend were to continue that not only would it call into question viability inside the farmgate, but it would also call into question the sustainability of jobs in the agrifood sector? Will he comment on that issue?

Does the Department have a method of tracking the profile of people exiting the dairy industry? I do not claim to have carried out any scientific analysis but my observation is that many of the people now exiting the dairy industry are not the small producers but are medium to large producers. That is an alarming development. The Minister and his officials would do well to track developments in that regard, analyse them and take steps to address what is happening because those producers are the engine of the dairy industry and this development is giving cause for concern. I do not in any way undermine the fact that producers of all sizes in the dairy sector are under pressure but the people I have seen exiting in the biggest numbers are at least medium-sized quota holders.

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