Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 523: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress being made, if any, regarding his announcement of a new statutory dairy marketing levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16994/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Irish dairy industry is poised to increase production dramatically following the abolition of milk quotas in 2015.

Against the background of a Food Harvest 2020 target of a 50% increase in milk production in the period to 2020, I have been engaged in consultations with the dairy sector to determine how Irish dairy products might best be positioned to exploit the market opportunities arising, for the benefit of Irish dairy farmers, the dairy processing sector and the economy generally.

I have had an extremely positive engagement with the sector to date, and I will make an announcement as soon the consultations already referred to have concluded.