Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the serious market place distortion which has taken place due to the considerable volumes of fresh milk imported into the country on a daily basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9805/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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While I am aware that significant quantities of fresh milk are being imported into the State, provided such milk meets the standards of EU Directive 92/46, it can be traded freely within the European Union.

My role, as Minister for Agriculture and Food, is to ensure that an EU policy framework is in place, and EU market management measures are implemented in a manner which allows the dairy sector to continue to develop and to support farmers incomes. In this context, I am very pleased to report that milk producer prices in Ireland during the past 12 months are similar to those of the previous year, notwithstanding the introduction of the dairy premium as part compensation for the expected fall in producer prices.