Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 561: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to suspend production levies when the producer is receiving a below cost of production price; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7717/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The only production levy operated by my Department is the milk super levy.

The rules governing milk quotas and super levy are laid down in EU regulations. Article 79 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007, states that the surplus levy shall be entirely allocated among the producers who contributed to each of the overruns of the national quotas and that producers shall be liable for payment of their contribution to the surplus levy due. I have no discretion in the matter.

Figures supplied in monthly intake reports to my Department indicate that, to the end of December 2009. Ireland is approximately 11% under quota nationally. Given this position, and with only three months of the milk quota year remaining, it is unlikely that Ireland will incur a super levy fine for the 2009/2010 milk quota year.