Vol. 472 No. 6
217 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if officials from his Department and officials from the United Kingdom's Department of Agriculture have discussed the submission by the Cross-Border Milk Quota Action Group in respect of funding for an additional quota from the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. [23999/96]
The Deputy is already aware of my support for any initiative which would lead to the allocation of additional quota to milk producers in the Border counties. Discussions on this issue had, in fact, taken place between officials of my Department, the United Kingdom's Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland even before the group referred to was established. I had also raised the matter directly with the UK Minister for Agriculture.
As I have previously stated, the success of any initiative in this area will depend on the circumstances and timing of its being raised at EU level. The position taken by the United Kingdom authorities is, of course, a critical factor in any approach to the EU.
