Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That was an absolute model of how not to answer the question. Can the Minister of State simply tell me what are the conclusions from all of these studies on the likely effect on the suckler herd and the beef industry in Ireland? Has the Government and the Minister made a case to Europe, in view of the fact that we are already over the quota this year on milk production, that there should be a dramatic reduction in the superlevy fine for 2013, 2014 and 2015?

It is ridiculous that there is a 28 cent fine on over-production of milk that will last from the present regime right up until 1 April 2015, all fool's day. Then, suddenly there will be nothing. Would it not be far better if the superlevy was dramatically reduced for this production year and even further reduced in the following production year? Then, obviously, it would be zero the year following that. There are two parts to my question. The Minister of State might be able to answer them.

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