Damien English
Question:39 Mr. English asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his plans to make farm partnerships more user friendly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14769/04]
View answerThursday, 20 May 2004
Questions (41)
Written answers
I am satisfied milk production partnership arrangements have worked well to date and the take up in the new entrant-parent partnerships has been particularly encouraging. However, experience has suggested that further flexibility would be helpful so long as it does not compromise the integrity of the system. I, therefore, made a number of amendments designed to help prospective partners in the new milk quota regulations, which I signed in the past few weeks. I extended the maximum age at which a parent can establish a new entrant-parent partnership from 59 to 62. In addition, I introduced changes relating to off-farm income and also to the proximity of holdings. All partnerships will be allowed to continue until a partner reaches 66 years of age which coincides with the age for eligibility for old age pension. On standard partnerships, the regulations allow for three producers to come together to form a partnership. The experience of the past few years has shown a demand for these changes.
Partnership arrangements within the milk quota system have a very useful role to play in providing for the type of flexibility necessary to respond to the demands on today's milk producers. I will continue to keep the arrangement under review to ensure it is best suited to the needs of the sector.