asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the date from which he expects the proposed national restructuring scheme for milk quotas to be operational and the categories of producers to whom priority will be given in the purchase of these quotas.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Quotas Scheme.
66.
I have been actively pursuing with the EC Commission and Council the setting up of a restructuring scheme. A proposal to this effect has in fact been included now, at my request, in the price fixing compromise that was circulated at last week's Council meeting. While I will be seeking to have this implemented as soon as possible, the date for the setting up of such a scheme will be dependent on when agreement is reached on this year's price fixing.
The categories of producers who will be eligible to buy up the additional quotas made available under such a scheme will be finalised following consultations between officials of my Department and representatives of the farming and co-operative organisations. These categories will generally be based on those presently eligible for priority distribution of flexi-milk.
This is purely for information purposes. If the price talks conclude within the next month or so what kind of a date would he expect to have in mind as to when the restructuring scheme will be operational? Perhaps the Minister could give some indication as many people are interested in this matter.
I appreciate that. I would want to have that date as soon as possible. I must inform the Deputy truthfully that there is no specific time scale between the completion of price talks and the date of implementation. I assure the Deputy that I would be talking about weeks rather than months but that is subject to Commission agreement.
That disposes of ordinary questions and questions nominated for priority for today.