(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will agree that it is in the national interest that this country produces the maximum amount of milk possible and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Milk Production.
152.
Within the constraints of the super-levy regime, it is essential that Ireland's national milk quota be utilised to the maximum.
153.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will confirm that those farmers who availed of the non-marketing of milk scheme have a contractual right to resume milk production; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
154.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture if his Department is obliged to secure a milk quota for farmers who participated in the non-marketing of milk scheme.
155.
(Limerick West) asked the Minister for Agriculture if it will be possible for him to secure additional quota allotments from Brussels to cater for farmers who availed of the non-marketing of milk scheme; and if he agrees that it should not be necessary for individual farmers to initiate expensive legal procedures to achieve their rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 153, 154 and 155 together. There are no special provisions in the Community regulations for producers who participated in the non-marketing schemes. Thus those whose non-marketing period expired before or during 1983 are entitled to a quota based on their actual 1983 deliveries if they had re-commenced deliveries by that time. Those whose non-marketing period expired after 1983 are in the same position as a producer entering milk production for the first time and as such are dependent on a temporary quota allocation from any flexi-milk available in their cooperative-dairies, after the priority categories have been dealt with.