Brian Cowen
Question:138 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will call for a ban on one-year milk leasing with a requirement that private leasing should be subject to a minimum three year period. [14688/95]
Written Answers. - Milk Leasing.
There is no doubt that one-year private leasing of land, particularly when it involves high prices, can be detrimental to the temporary leasing scheme operated at dairy-cooperative level. It could also have adverse effects on the longer-term on-farm cost structure of the Irish dairy industry. At the same time, the matter cannot, for legal reasons, be dealt with as the Deputy suggests.
In order to restore better balance between the various mechanisms, I have introduced a measure which provides for the clawback of 10 per cent of the quota involved in all private leases entered into for a period of less than three years. It does not apply to temporary leasing.