Written answers

Thursday, 24 November 2016

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Milk Prices

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of discussions at the recent Council of Agriculture Ministers on the need to improve dairy prices due to the ongoing income pressures on dairy farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36707/16]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I am acutely conscious of the pressure farmers are under at present, and I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to exploring all of the appropriate options for providing assistance to the farm sector through current difficulties.

I have already outlined the measures taken to assist dairy farmers on a number of occasions, including measures taken in Budget 2017, and the launch of a €150 million liquidity fund for farmers with the assistance of €11.1 million in EU funding.

I am pleased that after a prolonged period of downward price movement  in dairy markets, there are some tentative signs of recovery. There is no room for complacency however, and I will continue to carefully monitor market developments and engage with the EU Commission, with other member states and with industry stakeholders to ensure that measures are in place to help farmers through periods of volatility.

The final report of the Agricultural Markets Task Force was discussed at the recent Council of Ministers meeting.  The Task Force was established by the Council to inform the development of measures to enhance the stability of the agrifood sector as a whole.  A set of draft council conclusions on the “strengthening farmers’ position in the food supply chain and tackling unfair trading practices” were prepared, with the view to agreeing final council conclusions at the next Council of Ministers meeting in December.

I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work closely with the dairy sector, with EU colleagues and International counterparts to ensure the development and maintenance of a sustainable dairy sector in Ireland.

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