P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will report on the exchange of views and discussions at the Council of EU, Agriculture and Fisheries, meeting on 23 of March 2009 on the situation on the milk market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12433/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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At this week's meeting of the Council of Ministers there was a debate about the unprecedented situation in the dairy sector at present and the short term outlook for dairy markets. I informed my colleagues that in Ireland we are entering a period of abundant supplies and the levels at which refunds and intervention function will be critical to the speed at which the sector emerges from the current slump. While I was encouraged by recent developments in community support, I urged a short sharp utilisation of the market management measures to get the market back to equilibrium as quickly as possible. It is clear to me that the elements that will lead this recovery are competitive refunds that allow the sale of dairy products onto world markets in considerable quantities and, the continuation of intervention under the tendering mechanism provided that these arrangements remain relatively attractive.

The Commission was left in no doubt by me and by a number of other Member States of the importance of fully using all available supports to manage the market in the coming period.