Government pressure on Brussels over milk prices – Collins

Fine Gael Cork North West TD, Áine Collins, has welcomed the extension of the milk price intervention deadline, a move that will be welcomed by Cork dairy farmers, but Deputy Collins says that more can be done on prices paid and volumes eligible.

“I commend the work of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, in using his position at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council to encourage the European Commission to take action in relation to milk prices. The announcement that the Commission is to extend the milk price intervention beyond the original deadline of September 30th 2015 is welcome.

“However I would also like to see a similar announcement on the matter of the milk intervention price and indeed the volumes eligible, which I know Minister Coveney has also been pushing for. These measures would go a long way towards providing a realistic safety net for dairy farmers.

“The Government is acutely aware of the pressures currently facing the dairy sector with global price reductions. I will continue to work closely with my colleague Minister Coveney to ensure that everything possible is being done to ease this pressure. The other recent measure designed to make life easier for dairy farmers was the announcement that superlevy payments can be extended over three years without interest accruing. We will continue to prioritise the Irish dairy sector throughout this challenging period.”