THE Irish Farmers' Association and the dairy industry have called on the Government to match the EU compensatory payment to offset losses incurred through revaluations of the green pound.

IFA president, Mr John Donnelly, and ICOS president, Mr Michael O'Dwyer, yesterday accused the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, of failing to realise the full extent of the loss of income suffered by dairy farmers.

"This top up would help to offset some of the massive £70 million income losses incurred by Irish dairy farmers as a result of the revaluation," they said in a statement.

Mr O'Dwyer added that dairy producers had a right to expect that matching funding would be provided by the Exchequer because they were suffering substantial income losses as a direct result of the Government's strong exchange rate policy.

"Irish diary co ops are committed to seeking the payment of the national element of the green, pound revaluation compensation package which is so vital to all Irish dairy farmers," he said.

Mr Donnelly said that, in the last two years, a combination of lower milk prices and depressed calf and cull cow markets had reduced the average milk supplier's income by £58 a week.