Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for his reply. We have discussed this matter in the House on a number of occasions over recent months in anticipation of the superlevy threat that is hanging over the dairy sector in Ireland.

Denmark assumed responsibility for the Presidency of the European Council in January last. Significantly, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Cyprus and Luxembourg exceeded their dairy quotas in 2010-2011, resulting in a superlevy bill of €55.5 million having to be paid. In this current year, Europe will be an estimated 5.5% under quota. It is clear that quite a significant number of dairy farmers will be in serious difficulty if one is to judge from newsletters issued, for instance, by Glanbia, one of the major dairy companies in the country. In Leinster and a good part of Munster, where a significant volume of milk is produced, they are seriously over quota. In many instances, it will be a bridge too far to make the sort of adjustments that seem to be necessary between 7 March and 31 March. Has the Minister a responsibility, having regard to his reply to questions way back in October where the issue of the butterfat adjustment was very much under consideration? Would it be timely to bring forward an initiative in that regard?

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