Vol. 473 No. 1
302 Mr. D. Ahern asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will accede to a request for a meeting between himself and the Cross-Border Quota Action Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24611/96]
I have, on a number of occasions, indicated my support for any initiative which would lead to the allocation of additional quota to milk producers in the Border counties.
This matter was originally discussed between officials of my Department, the United Kingdom's Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. I also raised this matter directly with the UK Minister for Agriculture and, as the Deputy will be aware, I have also met the Cross-Border Milk Quota Action Group. The success of an initiative of this nature will be dependent not only on the circumstances and timing of its presentation at EU level, but also, of course, on the position taken by the United Kingdom authorities.
In these circumstances, I feel that a further meeting with the cross-Border group at this stage would not advance the matter. I will, however, keep the situation under review.
