Vol. 495 No. 3
54 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the proposal to provide additional milk quota under the special programme for Peace and Reconciliation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19865/98]
I have fully supported this initiative from the outset and I will continue to do so.
The matter has been discussed on a number of occasions between officials of my Department, the United Kingdom's Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. The matter was also raised at ministerial level with the UK and I have also met the Cross-Border Milk Quota Action Group. I will continue to press the matter.
However, as has been indicated previously, 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.
