Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the process involved in establishing the newly proposed dairy consultative group, specifically as to the composition of the group. [36220/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Last week I announced my intention to establish a consultative group to advise me on medium and long term measures for the dairy sector. I did this following the special Council of Ministers meeting on the 5th of October, where we had a thorough discussion on the need for measures to manage the dairy market in the period up to and beyond quota abolition in 2015. At that meeting it was agreed to set up a High Level Group of Member States, chaired by the EU Commission's Agriculture Director General, to examine the type of arrangements to be put in place.

In specific terms, the High level Group will examine medium term and long term ways of stabilising dairy farmer's incomes and improving market transparency. In its work towards delivering a comprehensive report by June 2010, the Group will examine means through which contractual arrangements in the supply chain can contribute to the highest possible returns for producers, giving them more bargaining power in the process and providing a buffer against extremes of market volatility such as those that are being experienced at present. It will also examine existing market instruments and consider what other means, including a dairy futures market, could contribute to the objective of price stability in the longer term.

As the first meeting of the High Level group took place earlier this week I was anxious to establish a Consultative Group so that I could hear the views of the experts here on issues emerging at the High Level Group. In particular the ideas, knowledge and expert opinion of the Irish dairy sector will provide key perspectives on how the sector needs to be developed and supported into the future. The consultative group will be representative of all the stakeholders and I will be asking the IFA, ICMSA, ICSA, Macra Na Feirme, ICOS, IDIA and IDB to nominate representatives. In addition, Teagasc and academic interest will be invited to participate and these invitations are in the process of being issued.