Vol. 490 No. 1
20 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the appeal by the Government against the £70 million fine imposed by the EU Commission for alleged breaches of regulations; when it is expected that the matter will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9407/98]
The Advocate General issued opinions on 24 March in the cases taken by Ireland, Denmark, France, Italy and the United Kingdom on intervention tendering and by Ireland on intervention storage. He recommended that the appeals be rejected. The next step is for the Court of Justice to frame a judgment, which may or may not differ from the Advocate General's opinion. The judgment may be available by summer but I am not in a position to give a definitive date.
