In regard to the Deputy's question, there are two points in question. There will be a mid-term review vis-á-vis Structural Funds in July this year which will look at the question of allocations of spending in the period 1994-9. Quite separate from that, the milk regime guarantees quotas to the year 2000. Thereafter, there will be no such guarantee of quotas.
As to what would be in the best interest of Ireland, I set up an expert private non-representational group who will shortly present its conclusions.Any reform of the milk sector will have to take into account the next round of the WTO and enlargement of the European Union. My own view is that there will be no quick abandonment of milk quotas, but they are unlikely to remain in perpetuity because Europe's share of the global market since the introduction of milk quotas in 1983 has dropped from 50 per cent to 30 per cent. However, we have maintained dairy incomes and a price for milk which is not obtainable outside the Union. For those reasons we favour a transitional approach. There are a number of options, but we will be seeking two basic principles, full compensation in terms of a dairy cow premium if there is any reduction in price, and that there will be no renationalisation of the dairy sector in terms of aid to producers. The House can be assured that because we have about 40,000 family farm dairy producers I am very anxious to ensure that the maximum number of them survive into the future.