Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 September 2013
68. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has had any discussions with his Northern counterpart Minister Michelle O’Neill in relation to ensuring the security of supply of liquid milk in the island of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39520/13]
View answerThe National Milk Agency, which operates under the aegis of my Department, was set up in 1994 to ensure an indigenous year round supply of milk for liquid consumption. All farmers supplying milk for liquid consumption in the winter months do so under contracts with processors which must be registered with the Agency. Farmers supplying milk in the winter months are paid a premium over the price paid to farmers who only produce milk in the spring-autumn period. This premium reflects the additional costs of producing milk in the winter months.
Currently there is no shortage of indigenous milk supply for processing fresh milk in the Republic or on the island of Ireland. As circumstances change in the lead up to and after 2015, developments in that regard will need to be monitored closely.
