Second Meeting Of Dairy Forum Held Ahead Of Key Meeting Of EU Agriculture Ministers

Key stakeholders from the Irish dairy sector have met with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, at the second meeting of the Dairy Forum.

The forum discussed ongoing challenges in the sector and focussed on preparations for next week's key meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers in Brussels. In preparation for the Council meeting the Minister also held bilateral talks with EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan in Dublin this morning to advance Ireland's proposals.

Speaking after the forum Minister Coveney said: "I am acutely aware that this period of price volatility has been challenging for the dairy sector and farmers in particular not least because it is more prolonged than expected.

"When this forum last met on 29 September we were all hopeful that an upturn in early 2016 would start to appear but this has not turned out to be the case. Today was about re-focussing on the measures which could be taken to stabilise the market and the key issues which we believe should be agreed at EU level next week when the Agriculture Council meets so that the sector and farmers overcome this period of reduced prices."

The Minister also held talks with EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan earlier in the day in Dublin in preparation for next week's Council. The meeting discussed the detailed 10-point plan which Ireland has circulated in advanced of the meeting.

Commenting on the meeting the Minister said: "I am in close contact with the Commissioner and other Ministers as well as stakeholders here in preparation for this Council. We have circulated a ten-point plan which I believe can be the basis for discussion. We have in fact added one point in the meantime in response to the IFPRI analysis on the fertiliser sector where we have called on the Commission to review the tariff regime currently in place in response to the findings of this study which I am hopeful will be delivered."

(MH/LM)