Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 2 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 2

Written Answers. - Dairy Sector.

Jimmy Deenihan

Ceist:

103 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if the decision to direct dairy co-ops to pay butter fat fines is confined to this country in view of the fact it is not consistent with the policy in other EU countries where the fines were paid by the national Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25711/99]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

(Mr. Walsh): The payment of additional levy for excess supply of milk or milk equivalent is provided for under Council Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92. Article 2.1 of that regulation states,inter alia, that additional levy shall be shared between the producers who contributed to the overrun. The adjustment of delivery levels to cater for butterfat content is set down in Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 536/93, as amended.

The totals of actual and fat adjusted milk deliveries are compared at the end of each milk quota year and the levy liability is calculated on the greater of the two figures provided that that quantity is also greater than the national quota.

There is no provision in the EU regulations on the quota regime under which super levy penalties may be paid by national Governments.