Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I will finish on this point. Farmers must take responsibility for themselves in the meantime. At the end of 2011 they were just under quota, but there is a significant danger that if they produce as much milk in the first three months of this year as they did last year, they will be significantly over quota and super-levy fines will be applied at 28 cent a litre. This is a significant fine for any dairy farmer who is over quota. I caution farmers to continue to do what they have been doing, that is, to act responsibly to try to remain within quota.

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