Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

That should apply to both sides of the House.

Last week, in reply to a parliamentary question I tabled, the Minister outlined the amount of milk quota that had changed hands over the past six years. In 2006 the amount traded fell by 15 million from 177 million litres compared with 2005. There were great expectations that the new quota system would have a dramatic effect last year but farmers did not offer their milk quota for sale because the Minister announced the restructuring scheme on a Friday and then announced her new proposals the following Sunday. Does she agree it is totally unacceptable that no milk changes hands where a supplier brings his milk to a co-operative if it does not have a computer system? Departmental officials advise that by grouping co-operatives, the issue would be resolved. How can she explain then that only 11% of the available quota transferred in Lakeland Dairies' catchment area, which is a large co-operative?

I refer to the serious issue of a technicality. The document on the sale and purchase of quota states a farmer must dispose of all his quota when it is offered for sale, which means a farmer could lose 30% of its value. A farmer who does this will also sell his cows. If his quota does not sell, how can he re-create milk so that he can lease the remaining 70% for the rest of the year? Will the Minister accept this is a mess?

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