Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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44. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he has taken to ensure that liquid milk producers get an adequate price for their product to ensure long term viability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21500/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The regulation of milk for liquid consumption is a matter for the National Milk Agency, which was established under the Milk (Regulation of Supply) Act, 1994. This legislation provides that pasteurised milk produced in the State cannot be sold for liquid consumption unless it has been produced under a contract registered with the National Milk Agency. It also provides, inter alia , that the contract must be for at least 12 months and, in the opinion of the Agency, provides adequate compensation to the producer taking into account, in particular, in relation to the winter months, the economic costs of production of raw milk all the year round.