Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan has said that counties like Limerick are in a very strong position to benefit from the development of the Irish Dairy Industry. Patrick O’Donovan was speaking as a Dáil debate on the future of the Irish Dairy Sector got underway in Dáil Éireann.
Opening the debate the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney told the Dáil that over the next five years Ireland will be the fastest growing dairy producer in the world with an additional 10,000 jobs expected to be created. The Minister told the Dáil that the abolition of milk quotas providing farmers with the opportunity to produce without restriction for the first time in over thirty years provided a huge opportunity for Ireland. He gave examples of new markets like China where the potential for Irish companies to export high quality food is enormous.
Patrick O’Donovan said that the dairy sector was of huge importance to the county Limerick economy. “The family farm has, for generations been the backbone of the Limerick economy and the developments which have taken place in the dairy sector in the recent past show the opportunities that exist for Limerick.”
“Here in Limerick the food industry is a major employer. We know from small scale producers to global manufacturers that our ability to produce safe and traceable food is making a real difference to county Limerick families. We need to build on that and the measures that the Minister has developed since taking office, while working with the farming organisations”.
Patrick O’Donovan welcomed the development that the Minister had secured flexibility from the EU on the issue of super levy. He added that measures that were included in the budget together with the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme which is worth €400million and the Rural Development Program which will see over €4billion being injected into communities across the country will make a big difference.
Simon Coveney told the Dáil that it is his intention to establish a Dairy Forum similar to the Beef Forum where issues affecting the industry can be discussed. Patrick O’Donovan said that he believed that this is an important decision because it will allow any problems that the industry might have to be properly discussed.
“This sector has the potential to drive the economic recovery in rural communities, and under the leadership and support from the Government it’s clear that it has a very bright future in Limerick and beyond.”