BY PATSY McARDLE
THE SERIOUS situation which has arisen over several months in relation to a growing threat to the liquid milk industry in Co. Monaghan, and elsewhere in the Republic, from the growth of milk imports from the North, has led to concerns expressed by members of the Border Regional Authority, which represents local authorities in counties Cavan and Monaghan, and in the four other southern Border counties, as well as some dairying interests, and the Irish Farmers’ Association.
Last month, a Cootehill councilor, Aidan Boyle, was one of the delegates at a Border Regional Authority meeting, to urge constructive cross-border action to ease the marketing threat, which is currently forcing many liquid milk producers out of business.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fail spokesperson an Agriculture, Eamon O Cuiv has welcomed a commitment from the Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture to look at the supply of liquid milk on the market.
It has also emerged that the Northern Minister, Ms Michelle O’Neill, MLA, recently attended an Oireachtas Agriculture Committee meeting to discuss the cross-border milk flow, with ….