Vol. 566 No. 1
203 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to an application for milk quota on foot of correspondence by a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11879/03]
During the milk quota year ending 31 March 2002 the person named made no milk deliveries against his quota. Neither was that quota accepted into the temporary leasing scheme. In accordance with the European Communities (Milk Quota) Regulations 2000 (SI 94 of 2000) which set out the procedure for dealing with dormant milk quotas, the person named was notified on 31 July 2002 of the Department's proposal to add his quota to the national reserve. He was informed that if he did not agree with this proposal he could make observations in writing within 30 days. When a response was not received, a reminder issued on 25 October 2002 allowing a further seven days for observations. My Department has no record of having received a copy of the correspondence which the Deputy has attached. The contents of that correspondence as now presented however, do not give any specific reasons to justify an exemption from the normal rules relating to dormant quota.
If the person named can put forward such reasons he should do so as quickly as possible and my Department will consider the matter. I would add that in the event of dormant quota being surrendered to the national reserve it can be returned at a future date if the producer resumes milk production.
