Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

One does not want to have too much repetition today, but it is a crisis situation. Everybody talks about when the British will trigger article 50. My concern is the six months leading into it. It is like the sheriff being sent to a property and the person in trouble gets word of it - he could clear out the contents. That is my concern. There is a window of six months before the incoming British Prime Minister proposes to trigger article 50 and I am concerned that the damage could be caused by then regarding our trade deals etc.

My question related to the milk sector in general. Over 12 months ago, organisations were putting the Government under pressure about collapsing milk prices. At that time it was barely above the cost of production at 28 cent or 29 cent a litre. Now the base price is 21 cent or 22 cent a litre. Farmers have gone very silent. They are not silent because they are doing well; they are silent because they are afraid to talk out. There is concern there. I go to agricultural shows around the county and one would know there is a problem there, but they are saying nothing. It is a new form of protest to say nothing. They are afraid that they are not being listened to. I ask that more emphasis be placed on the next six months as opposed to the period after that when the UK leaves the EU.

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