(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture if the recent notice regarding the transfer of milk supplies from one processor to another at 12 monthly intervals only has the approval of the EC Commission; if such a 12-monthly impediment on transfers contravenes the EC Commission's free trade and competition guidelines; and in the event of a milk supplier losing payment for milk supplied to a co-operative which goes into liquidation, if he compensates such a supplier if the supplier had given three months' notice to the said co-operative but the transfer was not effected due to his notice.
Written Answers. - Transfer of Milk Supplies.
162.
I have notified the European Commission of the provisions regarding transfers which I laid down in the national super-levy regulations that I introduced recently and which were necessary for the effective operation of the system. In regard to the final part of the question no compensation is payable from the Exchequer.