asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the anxiety of creamery committees in the Connacht-Ulster region at the high level of applications under the community milk cessation scheme which, if granted, could have a very damaging effect on the future of the dairy industry in that region; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Cessation Scheme.
16.
I am aware of the anxieties expressed by the Deputy in his question. All creamery committees in Connacht and Ulster are concerned about the unequal outflow of milk from their co-op areas.
With this in mind I succeeded in obtaining the agreement of the EC Council of Ministers that member states can ensure that the reductions in quotas to be achieved through voluntary buying up schemes, are, as far as possible, evenly divided between regions and purchasing areas in the member state.
I got a commitment on that at this week's meeting. The idea is that the 2 per cent will be evenly distributed around the country, assuming that we get the applications from the southern part of the country, from where we have not got many applications so far. With the increased compensation, I have no doubt there will be a high additional number of applications from the south and then I will see to it that the milk is taken on an equal basis from all regions.
Would the Minister agree that it is important that the cuts should be right across the board instead of for individual applicants selling out their complete quota? Will the Minister extend the date for receipt of applications further than 31 December because the new terms will mean that the southern suppliers will be encouraged to avail of this and take the pressure off the north, north-eastern and western areas?
If we extend the date we will be snowed under. The undertaking we got this week that we can distribute equally should be a big help because the bulk of the applications to date came from the Connacht and Ulster regions.
Would the Minister agree that to date when we talked about a 2 per cent withdrawal from the scheme, we were talking about 5 per cent in Cavan-Monaghan and a much higher per centage in the west? If that is allowed, as it was allowed under the last milk cessation scheme, it will create serious problems. It will hit at the very basis of agricultural co-operation and agriculture in that part of the country.
I agree with the Deputy but I have explained that we are not going to allow that to happen. We have got a commitment.
I must move now to Priority Questions.
A Cheann Comhairle, what is the position regarding Question No. 33?
It was taken with Question No. 13.
I did not hear it, a Cheann Comhairle.
It is not like Deputy Walsh to miss anything.