Vol. 426 No. 7
2 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals if any, he intends submitting to the EC Commission and Council of Ministers in view of the special arrangements which Italy secured in relation to its milk quota, in order to ensure similar treatment for Ireland.
29 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the progress, if any, he has made in seeking an additional milk quota for Ireland or at least preventing a reduction in our existing quota in view of the commitments given at the time of the introduction of the super levy and the increases recently allowed to Italy, Spain and Portugal.
A final decision has not yet been taken by the Council of Ministers on either the Italian or Spanish milk quota questions. There are no specific issues in relation to Portugal's milk quota before the Council.
Is the Minister aware that when the milk quota was introduced in 1984, it was part of the textual agreement that if there was any additional milk quota Ireland would get it? How can the Minister explain, when Ireland has had a 12.5 per cent cut in its milk quota since 1984, that it now looks likely that the Italians will get an extra 200 million gallons? Will the Minister oppose this and explain how the Italian Minister seems in line to get something but we cannot when we are facing a super levy bill this year of perhaps £17 million.
I am aware of the Protocol in 1983 when we got our original base quota. I have quoted it several times in the past year, at both Council of Ministers meetings and at bilateral meetings. It appears that unless one gets the actual regulation of any addendum or Protocol it has no legal effect. At the same time there is a moral obligation to appreciate that the dairy industry is a vital part of our agricultural and overall economy in Ireland. I want to make it clear that there will be no question of agreeing to any resolution of the Italian milk quota problem without ensuring that Italy pays up for ignoring the milk quota since it was introduced and that they will reduce their milk production. It would be quite unfair to expect the Irish industry to allow a member state that flouted the rules of the quota regime to get off scot free while we who have been adhering to the rules have been penalised as a result. The question of the Italian milk quota is up for consideration and with that a whole lot of matters relating to the milk regime, including the 4.5 per cent suspended quota, the proposed 1 per cent cut in quota this year, and a restructuring scheme for small farmers. All that will have to be taken together in any consideration of the Italian question.
Does the Minister not see the developments in relation to Spain and Italy as an ideal opportunity to get this proposed permanent cessation of this 4.5 per cent of the national quota reflected differently for Ireland because of our unique dependence on this section? The sop to Italy and Spain will, in my view, be agreed. Will the Minister make a special case that this 4.5 per cent would not go ahead for Ireland?
Yes. I will undertake that in any consideration of the milk quota regime throughout the Community our special situation regarding the 4.5 per cent, the proposed 1 per cent cut, the restructuring scheme and support for the new milk hygiene regulations, and our special position which was given in writing in the original Protocol will be taken into account.
