Vol. 515 No. 1
104 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny whose nine unit suckler cow quota has been taken into the national reserve in view of the fact her auctioneer failed to lease the quota in 1999. [5462/00]
Under EU regulations governing the quota regime, farmers holding suckler cow quotas greater than seven premium rights are required to use at lease 90% of that quota every year, otherwise the part not used will be forfeited and returned to the national reserve. Quota leased out is regarded as quota used but quota may only be leased out for three consecutive years. The person named held a suckler cow quota of nine premium rights. She leased out the quota in 1996, 1997 and in 1998. Because of the three year leasing rule, she may not have leased her quota again in 1999. The onus is on each farmer to ensure that they are familiar with the quota regulations which are clearly set out on the leasing forms completed by the person named in previous years.
In the circumstances, I regret to say that the quota in this case has been returned to the national reserve.
