Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 24 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 5

Written Answers. - Farm Modernisation Scheme.

Dan Neville

Ceist:

238 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will compensate all development plan farmers in the farm modernisation scheme who were advised to develop their dairy farms and who were badly affected by the introduction of the milk quota systems which prevented completion of their development plans in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Duff v Minister for Agriculture and Food (1997) and having regard to the undeniable merits of the development farmers cases; whether, in the interest of fairness, he should not plead under the Statute of Limitations Act, 1957, in dealing with this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23368/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh):

Following judgments in the Supreme Court in 1997 in favour of a number of plaintiffs, who were producers following development plans in the 1980s, this matter was referred to the High Court for assessment of damages. The High Court has already dealt with a number of those cases. The proceedings in the High Court concern some 110 plaintiffs involved in the original case, known as the Duff case, and in associated cases.

No special provision has been made in respect of any persons or group of persons who are not party to the proceedings in the Duff case and other associated cases.