Vol. 483 No. 2
109 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the circumstances whereby certain EU members states (details supplied) have received additional milk quota; and the steps, if any, which have been taken to secure additional quota for Ireland by this or another mechanism. [19985/97]
In the 1992-93 milk quota year the member states concerned were granted additional milk quota to deal with the problems resulting from the implementation by them of the quota system. At the same time the national quota of all other member states was increased by 0.6 percent.
While the Santer package as set out in Agenda 2000 supports the continuation of the quota regime until the year 2006, detailed proposals by the Commission on the future of the dairy regime will not be submitted until early in 1998 when negotiations will begin in Council. In these negotiations, which are expected to cover a wide range of issues related to the sector, I will be seeking the best possible outcome for the Irish dairy industry.
110 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the agreement, if any, which was signed between Ireland and the EU on the introduction of milk quotas regarding the availability of additional quota for Ireland at a future date; if so, the nature of this agreement or understanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19986/97]
No such arrangement was signed between Ireland and the EU. When milk quotas were introduced in 1984 it was widely acknowledged that Ireland did particularly well by comparison with other member states. There have been many developments since then in relation to the operation of the EU dairy regime, including overall increases and decreases in national quotas. By and large, Ireland has done relatively better than most other member states if the effects of these also are aggregated. The future of the dairy regime, including that of the milk quota system will feature in the negotiations on the Santer package. It will be my objective in that context to achieve the best possible outcome for Ireland.
