Coughlan urges 3% milk quota rise

IRELAND has formally called for a 3% increase in milk quotas from next April. The demand was made by Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan at the meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers in Brussels.

It was echoed by a large number of other member states.

Ms Coughlan said she was pleased with the level of backing for this idea. She had been in contact with several of her counterparts in recent weeks to build such support.