The Creamery Milk Suppliers Association has blamed the Minister for Agriculture for the failure of the EU to manage the international dairy market.
The President of the ICMSA, Pat O'Rourke, said Irish milk prices were among the lowest in the EU, with Irish dairy farmers receiving 8% less for milk than their Danish or French counterparts.
Mr O'Rourke said it was shocking that this price gap existed in a single market. He said the EU Commission was not managing the situation either inside or outside the EU, and he said the political responsibility for this failure rested squarely on the Minister for Agriculture, Joe Walsh.
Mr O'Rourke said that at this stage, Irish dairy farmers were wondering just how much influence the Minister had to ensure that the Commission operates the market effectively.
Representatives of the dairy processors, IFA leaders, and Minister Walsh are to meet Commissioner Fischler tomorrow for talks about the sector.
