ICMSA attacks ‘smug’ Fischer Boel comments on milk price collapse

THE Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association yesterday described as “unbelievably smug and out-of-touch” comments made by European Union Farm Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel on its dairy policy and the collapse in milk prices.

Deputy president John O’Leary said Irish dairy farmers read with disbelief Ms Fischer Boel’s statement that the EU must not over-react or under-react to the current weakness of the dairy market.

Farmers are losing money every day through supplying milk at below the costs incurred producing it. “It is very easy not to over-react or under-react to a disaster, if it has no impact on your own pocket — as is the case with Commissioner Fischer Boel. It is a different affair for the person milking the cows who is now left in a situation where, for instance, a 250,000 litre supplier into Kerry, is now losing e40,000 on a full year’s production.”