However, even though some other EU agricultural ministers were “like-minded”, no agreement has been forthcoming and any adjustments to the situation look “unlikely to be achieved”.

He said a number of other countries are opposed to any action on the super levy and have sought to link the issue to possible measures to regulate supply after quotas are gone.

Minister Coveney said he was resolutely opposed to any talk of supply controls after quota abolition next April as quotas have “only served to shackle Irish farmers over the last 30 years”.

He added that expect the matter to be raised again at the December meeting of the EU Agriculture Council and in the meantime he urged farmer to take steps to manage their milk supply and their dairy herds so that they have an efficient herd as they enter the post quota era.

Minister Coveney made the comments in response to a parliamentary question by Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan/Monaghan Brendan Smith.