Right now there is an unprecedented crisis in milk production where milk prices are below production prices, would the EU Commissioner not agree that we need greater use of and higher levels of dairy management tools such as export refunds, aids to private storage and intervention? This question was posed by Marian Harkin MEP to Commissioner Fischer Boel in the European Parliament.

 In response Commissioner Fischer Boel stated that the Commission was willing to take all the necessary steps and will not hesitate to use the tools at its disposal to intervene to support dairy farmers. She agreed that Irish dairy farmers were at a huge disadvantage exporting into sterling areas and this compounded the already difficult situation for the dairy sector.

The Commissioner agreed that it is very difficult for dairy farmers to make money. "The dairy industry is on its knees and unless the Commission moves to take the necessary measures to support it - many dairy farmers would go out of business" concluded Marian Harkin.