Commission told by IFA president to be more supportive of dairy sector

THE European Commission has been told by Irish Farmers Association president Padraig Walshe that it needs to take more creative action to support the dairy sector.

Mr Walshe, who met with Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel in Brussels, said decisions made by the commission regarding intervention and other supports have successfully put a floor under falling dairy commodity prices.

However, this policy no longer goes far enough and other market support measures must be implemented if milk prices are to return to 27c/l. A more creative approach to address an exceptional and critical situation is needed.