Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 4

Written Answers. - Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

108 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the composition of the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal; the terms of reference of the tribunal; the amount of quota allocated over the past 12 months; the category of farmers to whom it was allocated; and the basis upon which these allocations were made. [16374/97]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal was established in March, 1990 with a view to assisting small scale milk producers whose deliveries in the 1983 base year were lower than they might have been as a result of animal disease, human illness or other exceptional factors.

The members of the tribunal are as follows:—

Chairman:

Mr. Reddy Brennan

Members:

Mr. John Tyrrell; Mr. Michael Slattery;

Mr. Con Scully and Mr. Padraig Walsh

Secretary/Advisor:

Mr. Patrick Evans

During the 1996/97 milk quota year 1.1 million gallons were allocated on the recommendation of the tribunal.

The following criteria are taken into account by the tribunal in assessing applications: (i) current quota size; (ii) off-farm income and/or other farm enterprises; (iii) size of holding; (iv) family circumstances, including succession; (v) commitment to dairying; (vi) financial problems; (vii) previous allocations from the national reserve.