Golden Vale has repaid a further £1.7 million to the Department of Agriculture for milk quota irregularities between 1995 and 1997. The payment, was handed over to the Department this month and follows a previous payment of £4.1 million for liabilities incurred between 1993 and 1994.

Responding to a report in the Irish Farmers Journal, Golden Vale, said it was satisfied it operated its milk purchasing and testing systems to the highest possible standards and had invested significantly in modern automated systems.