Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
226 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if an application to lease a milk quota from a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be approved in view of the circumstances of the case and the medical evidence provided; and if a decision will be expedited in the case. [11402/04]
View answerUnder the milk quota rules, a milk producer who temporary leased all his or her available quota in 2002-03 could not temporarily lease all of his or her available quota in the 2003-04 quota year. There was, however, provision to grant an exemption from that rule in exceptional cases.
The person named did not make an application to my Department for such an exemption until after the final closing date for such applications, which was 27 January 2004. The closing date had already been extended and applications received after the final date of 27 January could not be accepted since milk purchasers had to complete their temporary leasing schemes. I understand the person named was also informed in the course of the year by his milk purchaser of the requirement to make an application for an exemption.
