The vote is scheduled for 11 March, with draft regulation expected to be adopted and published by the end of next month before the abolition of the quota regime.

The initiative will allow member states to collect the fines in equal interest-free instalments in 2015, 2016 and 2017 to alleviate the financial burden on dairy farmers. Payment will be in three equal sums and interest-free.

Latest figures from the CSO show that the domestic milk intake by creameries and pasteurisers was approximately 112.3 million litres in January.

This is the third month in a row that domestic milk intake has fallen. Milk intake in December was down by 17.1% as farmers attempted to reduce supplies to avoid a superlevy bill. In November it fell by 14% on the previous year.

Read more: OAD milking being used on 29% of farms