Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 October 2010
256 Deputy John Cregan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if participants in the dairy partnership scheme decide to dissolve their partnership, the circumstances in which the additional milk quota awarded through their participation can be maintained. [37950/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Milk Production Partnership consists of at least one person from category (i) below and one or more person(s) from any of the categories (i) to (iv):
(i) a milk producer who has produced and delivered milk in each of the two milk quota years preceding the milk quota year in which the partnership is established;
(ii) a new entrant(s) with the appropriate qualifications, who is participating with a parent(s) who is a milk producer;
(iii) other farmers who have been farming in their own right for a minimum of two years immediately preceding the milk quota year in which the partnership is established;
(iv) a farm manager, with the appropriate qualifications, followed by at least three years employment in farm management.
Where a ‘standard' Milk Production Partnership, i.e. one involving two or more milk producers (category (i) above), dissolves, the amount of quota allocated to existing partners is the amount of quota held by each partner at that time. Similarly, where a partnership involving a ‘other farmer' or ‘farm manager' (categories (iii) and (iv)) with a milk producer dissolves, all parties retain their quotas. A partner exiting a partnership who does not continue in milk production is subject to the normal dormancy rules.
In the case of a son/daughter partnership where the son/daughter exits and does not continue in milk production, the entire quota purchased from the Milk Quota Trading Scheme must be sold back into the same pool. However, where such a partnership dissolves through force majeure, the parent(s) may apply to the Minister to retain the quota, provided they demonstrate a clear commitment to continue in full time milk production.
