Irish dairy farming has received a much-needed boost, following the announcement by EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel, to introduce a series of supportive measures for the sector.

Junior Farming Minister Tony Killeen welcomed the scheduled reintroduction of export refunds for butter, skimmed milk powder, whole milk powder and cheese.

In addition to this package of measures, when intervention buying for butter and SMP opens in March, the Commission will purchase more than the fixed quantities of butter (30,000 tonnes) and SMP (109,000 tonnes) should the market situation warrant it.

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Mr Killeen said: "This new package of measures will provide a significant boost to the dairy sector at what is a critical juncture. Regrettably the bringing forward of the scheme of private storage aid for butter to 1 January has failed to halt the spiral of downward prices in the EU dairy sector.

"However, I am hopeful that the introduction of these new supports will help to restore confidence and put a floor under market prices."

He added: "The opportunity is now available for the sector to press ahead with its marketing efforts to shift produce into international markets with the support of export refunds.

"The Irish dairying sector is also in a position to avail of the storage facilities available under the scheme of private storage aid and, from March under intervention, while the commercial markets are fully restored."

(PR/BMcC)