Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

As the Deputy said, there has been frustration in the farming community earlier in the year, last April, May and June, when many young farmers were badly caught. They had been told to go into milk production and were given grants and advice but halfway through the summer they had no quota left. They were given no relief of any description. At that stage when everybody was lobbying, only two or three countries had joined with Ireland in seeking a solution. However, I note a list of countries have joined that lobby and it is crucial that both our MEPs and all politicians, regardless of party, fight that case. There is a massive world-wide demand for milk products and Ireland is in a position to produce them. It is a great shame even for the EU to be losing out on revenue at a time when most countries are suffering economically. We have to pick up this issue on 1 January and make a strong argument. Butterfat seems to be the main issue.

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