Dairy Quota Madness equals Superlevy for Ireland

Restrictive EU quotas on milk production are dangerously unrealistic and are the cause of a €16 million superlevy being placed on Ireland according to a spokesperson for North Wexford Sinn Féin.  Fionntán O' Súilleabháin described the current system which ends in April 2015 as economic madness and compared these allocations to the equally appalling fishing quotas.

Mr O' Súilleabháin said;

"Ireland is one of six countries that will pay a combined superlevy of €79 million due to our dairy farmers producing 1.1% more milk than was allowed by the restrictive quotas currently in place.  I believe our Dairy farmers should be commended for their efficiency and productivity instead of being punished for doing what they do particularly well."

"Like other EU quotas regarding fishing and vegetable production, the regulations in place with the Dairy quotas amount to shear madness.  Irish Dairy producers are chastised for producing above quota while other EU nations have failed to meet their quotas resulting in the overall EU milk production being 4.7% below quota."

"These quotas are not doing what they were originally intended to do.  Instead of having a system that regulates the market and ensures healthy competition among the member states what we have ended up with is Catch 22 style madness that makes neither economic nor moral sense.  It is entirely unacceptable that Irish Dairy farmers are treated this way by the EU for excelling in their sector."