Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

My family has been engaged in dairy farming for some time. The family-run farm is the EU model for farming. However, it cannot be sustained because of the volatility in world dairy markets. Expecting farmers to accept 20 cent a litre for milk when it costs them 27 cent a litre to produce it is unsustainable. Irish dairy farmers cannot compete with the New Zealand or US industries which are producing like factories.

The European Commission and EU agriculture Ministers must show the world market that the dairy industry is important at EU level to protect food supply. This week Irish farmers were disappointed the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Smith, did not seek supports for them at the EU Council meeting in the same way his French and German counterparts did, which is unusual. At an Irish level we need to negotiate more aggressive market support measures to protect our dairy industry. Will the Minister of State set up an ombudsman for the whole food industry? It is clear that at retail level the intimidation of producers and farmers is ridiculous. The multiple retailers have too much power.