Michael Ring
Question:171 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason no responses are being furnished to this Deputy from his Department in regard to matters (details supplied). [17690/04]
View answerTuesday, 15 June 2004
Questions (120)
Written answers
The letters referred to by the Deputy concern a number of individual milk producers who have incurred a super levy liability in the quota year ended on 31 March, 2004.
EU and national regulations on the milk quota system specify that, where the national quota is exceeded, the overrun must be shared between those producers who contributed to the excess. The regulations do not provide for exceptions in individual cases and therefore it is not open to me to intervene in these cases. The amount of levy payable in individual cases can, of course, be reduced by the distribution of unused quota, flexi milk, resulting from other producers not filling their individual quotas. This distribution is done on the basis of objective criteria. My Department on a regular basis throughout the year publishes estimates of milk deliveries and the extent to which these are under or over the national quota and advises producers to keep in close touch with their co-ops-dairies in this matter.
I understand that letters in the individual cases concerned have now issued to the Deputy.