Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the legislation which governs the transfer of milk quota; when this legislation was last changed; the regulations which deal with the matter; if and when these regulations were last changed and if so for what purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14165/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Milk quota regulations form part of European Union agriculture policy and, accordingly, the various Community regulations are transposed into Irish law by way of statutory instrument in accordance with the provisions of the European Communities Act 1972. The last amendment to these regulations came into effect on 1 April, 2005 under the European Communities (Milk Quota) (Amendment) Regulations 2005, SI 177 of 2005. The purpose of this amendment, inter alia, was to allow for the transfer of quota within families without the transfer of land in certain circumstances. This exceptional provision facilitates the consolidation of quota within families, so improving the viability of existing enterprises. It also allows the retiring dairy producer to continue to farm the amount of lands needed to activate entitlements in the single payment scheme.

I also provided that quota attached to lands purchased from 1 April 2005 must stay attached to those lands until 31 March 2009, the effect being that where quota lands are bought in the 2005-06 quota year, the quota must stay attached to lands for the same length of time as applied to quota lands bought in the 2004-05 quota year.