Speaking on his way into the special meeting of EU farm ministers, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said that he expected a comprehensive range of measures to be tabled today to help EU farmers.

Steps likely to be proposed included stepped up Aids to Private Storage schemes for cheese and for pigmeat, he said. There will be extra funding for promotion. “I think you’ll also see a proposal for an advance of the EU direct payments, of 70% or possibly even higher. We’ve pushed for that.”

There would also be “a lump sum package” available to help farmers get through this difficult time, he said. He said he expected some proposals which would address medium- and long-term problems in the marketplace. “There is absolutely an issue there with the percentage of the final market price which is paid by consumers. Farmers’ share is going down every year.”

He said: “I think Phil Hogan understands the problems facing farmers and has worked hard to come up with good proposals. The decision then for ministers is whether it’s enough. Our job is to get as much as possible.”

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