Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I am deeply concerned about this issue. I have raised it at all stages in the past six or seven months. The Europe wide milk quota is ultimately what we will require. I would be concerned if there are to be discussions on not abolishing the quotas in 2015 because many farmers have invested heavily in that and are gearing up towards it. It is important that in whatever framework there is the possibility of a butterfat adjustment. What is the position on that? How many countries support it?

The Danes are like us in terms of milk production but we must build a coalition of partners in Europe. My position for the past eight or nine months is that a Europe wide milk quota must be put in place because we continuously talk on the economic side about export led growth. The Minister is well aware that if the production of milk that ceased at dairy farm level in the past three or four months had continued in full production there would have been markets for that product. We must instill that notion across Europe because they are talking about the austerity packages and gaining exports and so on but we have a product. That does not make sense.

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