Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 4

Written Answers. - Milk Quota.

Frank Crowley

Ceist:

202 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will allow a public tribunal chaired by a High Court Judge to investigate EU milk quota arrangements following the recent discovery of malpractice in southern dairy co-ops in order to allay fears of farmers and tax payers; when his attention was drawn to this situation; if the European Commission have been notified; the investigations, if any, he intends carrying out; if he has satisfied himself that the public at large can trust the dairies to operate the EU scheme to the satisfaction of the European Commission and all its agents; if he will consider a milk quota authority with full power to deal with quota dealings so justice would be seen to be done in the national interest; and if priority categories of milk quota holders failed to get the increases due to them. [3065/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

The milk quota system is applied in Ireland by my Department in accordance with the relevant EU and national regulations. In conformity with these regulations certain functions are carried out by dairies/co-operatives under strict supervision by my Department. These functions include also the prioritisation of certain milk producer categories under various schemes implemented in Ireland under national provisions. The EU Commission has on many occasions examined the arrangements in place in Ireland and has been satisfied that the quota system is correctly applied.

My Department is in contact with the Revenue Commissioners in relation to its tax audits within the dairy sector. Should information be made available to my Department, or should evidence arise from its own controls which suggests the existence of a breach of the milk quota rules, the matter will be dealt with in accordance with the law governing the milk quota system. I see no justification for the establishment of a tribunal or of a quota authority as suggested by the Deputy.

Liam Aylward

Ceist:

204 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the current position regarding an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny against the refusal of his application under the 1994 milk quota scheme. [3150/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

The application for subsidy in respect of quota purchased under the 1994 restructuring scheme by the person named is still under consideration. Despite the issue of several reminders the producer involved has not responded to a query in relation to the income declared in his application form.