Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if changes to the present milk superlevy regime are envisaged to allow Irish dairy farmers to prepare for the abolition of the milk quota in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7753/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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As I mentioned in my response to a similar question earlier, it must be emphasised that the primary responsibility for producing within quota and ensuring the avoidance of a super levy rests with every individual milk producer. It is up to dairy farmers, who are familiar with the rules of the quota regime, to make the right decisions and protect themselves from exposure to potentially very damaging fines. The rules are very clear, and were confirmed as recently as last December by the European Commission.

Having said that, I want to see a soft landing for farmers in Ireland and in other member states, whether as a result of changes to the rate of super levy or some other mechanism. My officials have raised the matter with the Commission on a number of occasions in recent months, and I used the opportunity provided by my attendance at the Council of Agriculture Ministers last month to ask the Commission to consider whether a more flexible approach might be adopted for the limited number of member states, including Ireland, likely to have a super levy problem in the run-up to 2015. I also raised the matter in a bilateral meeting I had with Commissioner Ciolos prior to the Council meeting. I intend to continue to raise the issue with member state colleagues and with the Commission. However, the Commission has resisted attempts to revisit this issue, and there is, in any event, no guarantee that a majority of member states will support calls for a more flexible milk quota regime. Therefore Irish dairy farmers must continue to operate on the assumption that no further changes will be made to the quota arrangements agreed in the context of the CAP Health Check.