Vol. 477 No. 5
302 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the progress, if any, made to date in relation to the proposal to provide additional milk quotas in the Border region under the EU's programme for peace and reconciliation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9709/97]
I have, on a number of occasions, indicated my support for any initiative which would lead to the allocation of additional quota to milk producers in the Border counties.
This matter has been discussed between officials of my Department, the United Kingdom's Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. I also raised this matter directly with the UK Minister for Agriculture and I have also met the Cross-Border Milk Quota Action Group.
However, the success of an initiative of this nature will be dependent not only on the circumstances and timing of its presentation at EU level, but also, of course, on the position taken by the United Kingdom authorities.
