Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 9 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 1

Written Answers. - National Milk Quota.

Pat Cox

Question:

174 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry whether, in respect of the most recent increase in the number of gallons of milk to be made available to Ireland following the annual price round for the Common Agricultural Policy, he will give details of the amount of extra milk to be made available to Ireland and the categories concerned; if special provision is to be made for categories concerned; if special provision is to be made for the Development Plan farmers whose failure to get adequate quota has been a constant source of aggravation and dispute; the position in all other Community member states with regard to special reserves for development farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

At the Council of Ministers meeting held between 24-27 May I was successful in securing an increase of 0.6 per cent or 6.6 million gallons in the national milk quotas. The method of distribution of this additional quota will depend on the terms of the implementing Community regulations which have yet to be adopted.

Under the basic Community quota legislation, member states were given an option to make special arrangements for procedures operating development plans. In Ireland, such producers have been given priority status under the various quota arrangements, viz, the temporary leasing and restructuring schemes, the allocation of flexi-milk and the distribution of the special 1 per cent national reserve which was allocated in 1989.