Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I do not disagree with much of what the Minister is saying. All Deputies, including the Minister and me, have shared concerns about the effect of price volatility on weaker producers and smaller farmers. The past two years have been excellent for farmers. Dairy producers, in particular, have had a very good two years. The all-time high achieved earlier this year was a tremendous price for milk. The abolition of the quota will result in many other types of farming enterprise leaving these sectors and entering the dairy sector, but they will have to borrow a great deal of money to do so. The effect of price decreases on smaller producers who are producing at or perhaps below production level is much more magnified. Bigger producers, including those who have borrowed a great deal of money, are better able to sustain their businesses than smaller producers. That is my concern in this regard.

See this speech in context