Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2004
90 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has any proposals to include the 7.1 million gallons of milk quota, received under Agenda 2000, for decoupled payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5108/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am happy to facilitate Deputy Hayes in this regard. The total compensation available to Ireland under the dairy cow premium and national envelope is based on the level of the national milk quota in the base year 1999-2000. Ireland's quota includes an additional 32 million gallons, or 150,000 tonnes, which was negotiated under Agenda 2000 and has been allocated to the various categories. As Ireland was allowed to allocate this quota from the earliest date, the cumulative level of individual quotas needs to be adjusted to the level of the overall quota before the 2000 allocation, in the base year 1999-2000, for the purpose of calculating the dairy premium. I am considering the most equitable way of achieving this adjustment, while taking account of the status of producers who received allocations from the Agenda 2000 quota. I hope to make a decision on the matter in the near future.
I thank the Minister for his reply and I thank the Chair for allowing this important question to be answered. Will the Minister take into account the views of those who have campaigned long and hard for an extra quota, many of whom are genuinely committed to the future of rural Ireland and family farms?
We were fortunate to receive the additional allocation of milk because it tidied up a number of difficult cases, some of which had lasted for years, as the Deputy said. The regulations will not allow the dairy cow premium to extend to that additional milk. The 7.1 million gallons of milk quota, which were mentioned by the Deputy, extend only to quotas established before 2000. The vast bulk of our quota will qualify, however. The relatively small amount of 150,000 tonnes, of a total of 5,250,000 tonnes, will not qualify. We would prefer if the dairy cow premium was attached to it, but the detailed rules will not allow that.
I understand what the Minister is saying and where he is coming from in his response. In view of the fact that a small number of people, most of whom are young or development farmers, is affected, is it possible that a special case could again be made? I appreciate that the Minister understands the problem — I have no difficulty with that — but will he try to find another way to facilitate those who are affected by it, in conjunction with the Commission or whoever is responsible for it?
Senior officials of the Department of Agriculture and Food have been in Brussels in recent weeks teasing out various details of the mid-term review with representatives of the European Commission. I said that we hope to get the final text in about four weeks. Many issues, such as the availability of land, are under examination. Will those who have to lease land on quota during the reference period have to continue to lease that land into the future? We are making progress in a number of such critical areas and it is important that we continue to do so because the mid-term review of reform of the CAP will be in place for the next ten or 12 years. We want to ensure that we achieve the most favourable outcome possible from the negotiations. I have the utmost confidence that the departmental officials in Brussels will get the best possible deal from the Commission.
