Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

What Deputy Sherlock said is correct. It is often a case of supply and demand. Buoyancy will return to the market and that will ensure an adequate price will be returned right along the dairy chain. The market management measures put a floor under the price. Last year, we argued that they were extremely important but we would have liked to have had that floor at a higher level under the price. The poor price last year in conjunction with the harsh winter contributed to a lower production. We hope the weather, fodder and good grass will contribute to an increase in production this year. The recent auction and the Fonterra auction have given a strong signal to the market on an improved situation. I hope the increases that have occurred since autumn of 2009 and the spring will again lift in April.

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