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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 3

Written Answers. - Milk Quota.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

68 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the milk quota proposals in the CAP reform proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3870/03]

The EU Commission's proposals on the mid-term review contain significant proposals in the milk sector. It is proposed (i) to bring forward the Agenda 2000 proposals by one year, from 2005 to 2004; (ii) to impose additional price cuts in 2007 and 2008 with compensation by way of a dairy cow premium as under Agenda 2000; (iii) to increase quotas by 1% per year in 2007 and 2008; (iv) to extend the quota regime to 2014/2015; (v) to restrict access to intervention for butter; and (vi) to weight the price reductions more on butter than on SMP. At the Council of Ministers at the end of January, I outlined my position in relation to these proposals. I made it clear that I did not see any reason for bringing forward Agenda 2000 from the already agreed date. Neither did I see any reason at this stage for proposing further changes for 2007-08. I stated that my view was that any further reforms should be considered closer to that date when we will have a better view of the market conditions then prevailing and, crucially, the outcome of the Doha round of the WTO negotiations.

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