Vol. 444 No. 5
72 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will publish the proposal he has submitted to the European Commission in regard to the regionalisation of milk quotas; and if he will give his evaluation of the impact, if any, of this proposal on the achievement of optimum economies of scale and international comparative advantage for Irish milk production.
No proposal has been submitted by me to the European Commission in regard to the regionalisation of milk quotas. I have, however, examined, along with the Commission, ways in which existing legislation could be used to retain milk production in vulnerable areas. I am satisfied that this will not have any significant effect on the international comparative advantage of Irish milk production. Such a measure will, however, be of considerable benefit to the areas in question in terms of their long term social and economic development.
