Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a Kilkenny person, I extend my deepest sympathy to the Corrie family on the death of Mr. Jonathan Corrie. It is an awful tragedy. I look forward to the debate tomorrow that has been proposed by Senator Craughwell, and I compliment the Senator on that.

Will the Leader contact the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and ask the Minister to write to the Commission? Ireland is facing a crisis in milk this year given that milk production is 7.1% over quota for October 2014 whereas it was only 1% over quota in 2013. Ireland will face a superlevy bill of approximately €113 million. It was inevitable that farmers would increase production with quotas disappearing next year, but this is a serious situation. If farmers will be fined, it could cause major problems on farms, especially for cash flow. With the downward pressure on the price of milk, will the Leader ask the Minister to write to the Commission asking that the superlevy payment, if we face a superlevy bill, be made on a phased based, perhaps over three years.

Also, I did control my anger and, unlike other Members of this House, I did not manufacture it.