Coughlan to unveil quota intentions
Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan, who will announce her intentions when she officially opens a new Emmental cheese plant for Tipperary Co-op today, said she had considered a number of allocation options suggested to her by various organisations.
However, she was satisfied that allocating 2% additional quota to every producer active on April 1 was the fairest and most equitable manner of allocation.
“In making this decision I am conscious that further quota increases will be agreed in future years as the EU moves in the direction of quota abolition in 2015,” she said.
Referring to the CAP Health Check, she said future quota increases must ensure a framework of policy certainty so that farmers can plan their investment decisions.
On the need for a “soft landing” when quotas are phased out in 2014, she said she was not satisfied this can be achieved with the level of increases suggested recently by the Commission.
Minister Coughlan said she believes Ireland is well placed to produce more milk to satisfy international growth in demand and would favour a “special increase” for countries like Ireland that have the capacity to produce more.
