David Stanton
Question:49 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his plans to review milk quotas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25699/02]
Written Answers. - Milk Quota.
Under Agenda 2000, apart from the increase in quota levels for Ireland, I negotiated also changes to the EU milk quota regulations which allowed for greater flexibility in how member states apply the system. Based on this I introduced major changes to the regime in Ireland in the European Communities (Milk Quota) Regulations, 2000. I am satisfied these have had very positive effects and are achieving the objective of placing quota in the hands of active committed dairy producers.
While the changes we made have worked well, we need to consider how to operate the quota system in a way which makes even more quota available to those who need it to expand their operation in the coming years and to earn a decent living. There is not enough quota coming into the restructuring pool to meet such needs. We need to look at ways of attracting increased quantities of quota into the restructuring scheme. With the help of the milk quota review group, I have been considering mechanisms which would achieve this. The group met on 11 November and made certain recommendations to me. I asked the organisations represented on the group to make further submissions to me with suggestions as to how more quota can be brought into the pool, particularly in parts of the country where there is a serious deficit of quota relative to the demand from active producers.
I will consider those submissions as soon as they become available as well as the recommendations already made to me by the review group.