Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
1181. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when dairy quotas will be lifted; his views on whether lifting the production restrictions will enable Irish farmers to expand their operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37553/13]
View answerThe EU milk quota regime will end on 31 March 2015. This decision was made in the context of the 2008 CAP Health Check.
Ireland strongly supported the abolition of the milk quota regime on the basis that quotas were widely regarded by both the Irish dairy sector and market analysts as a brake on the potential of the Irish dairy sector to respond positively to market opportunities.
The ending of milk quota regime represents an exceptional opportunity to increase milk output in response to market demand, arising from increasing global population and the development of new opportunities for international trade with emerging markets. Under Food Harvest 2020 the dairy industry has targeted a 50% increase in milk production in the period to 2020.
Against this background, I believe that the opportunities for the dairy sector as a whole will expand significantly over the coming years and my Department and its agencies will play their part in providing an appropriate framework to support the development of this critically important industry.
My Department has been providing a range of supports to assist farmers to exploit its potential for expansion and development. These supports included a New Entrants to Dairying Scheme, which helps to revitalise the sector through the provision of milk quota to dynamic young educated farmers; a Dairy Efficiency Programme, which encourages the adoption of best practice management and production methods on farm; and the provision of financial support for ICBF and Animal Health Ireland to improve breed quality and animal health. My Department has also made up to €40m available through its Rural Development Programme for investment on farm, as well as €80m in capital investment support for the processing sector through the Dairy Investment Fund
These supports complement Ireland’s natural advantages in terms of climate and grassland and I am confident that with the right approach from all of the stakeholders in the sector the target in the Food Harvest 2020 Report can be met.
