Dairy farmers are demonstrating at the EU office in Dublin today in protest at the collapse in milk prices.
Farmers are blaming the EU's dairy policies for current prices, which they say leaves them producing milk below the cost of production
President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association Jackie Cahill said farmers are being left with no income at a time when they are repaying loans taken out to comply with EU nitrates regulations.
He said the EU dairy policy was inflicting "long term, structural damage" on Ireland's dairy industry and agri-food sector.
"The EU has so comprehensively mismanaged the Union's dairy market that virtually all EU farmers are now producing milk at below-cost production. In Ireland, as prices slip back to 23 cents per litre, we now have a situation where the costs of production are 3 cent higher than the price farmers receive," he said.
"The Commission is recklessly undermining a vital part of our food industry — not just in Ireland but across Europe."
He called for action on the EU intervention system, export refunds and other measures to help provide a floor for milk prices and restore normal milk prices.