asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the position in relation to the acquisition of a milk quota for farmers who took part in the non-marketing of milk or dairy herds conversion scheme; when a decision is to be announced in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Farmers' Milk Quota.
132.
In order to comply with the ruling of the European Court of Justice in the Mulder case, the EC Commission has submitted to the Council of Ministers a proposal to extend the special categories of producers, set out in the Community regulations, to include certain farmers who participated in the non-marketing schemes.
The Council has not yet decided on the proposal and will consider it again at its meeting on 14/15 November. Until the final decision is taken by the Council it will not be possible to indicate how individual farmers who participated in the scheme will be affected.
133.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will tabulate, co-op by co-op, the number of dairy farmers who were working on/towards an ACOT five-year development plan when the super levy was introduced, having committed themselves to the capital outlay but unable subsequently to milk the number of cows planned because of quota restrictions; if he will outline his plans for this group; and if he will follow France's lead and allow them to produce up to 93 per cent of their planned milk output.
When the super-levy system was introduced in 1984 my Department did not seek details of the number of producers in this category as such details were not required to be obtained under the Community Regulations.
The Deputy will be aware that earlier this year I set up the Milk Quota Review Group, composed of representatives from the farm and processing organisations, Teagasc and my Department to review the super-levy arrangements and to make recommendations for any changes which they consider necessary.
The group expect to be in a position to present their report to me in the next month or so and I will take any necessary decisions as soon as possible thereafter.