Written answers

Wednesday, 21 March 2012

Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food

Milk Quota

9:00 pm

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the provisions he will put in place for new entrants to the dairy sector after the ending of milk quotas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14641/12]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The decision to abolish milk quotas with effect from 1 April 2015 was made in the context of the CAP Health Check in 2008. Ireland strongly supported their abolition, on the basis that quotas were widely regarded by both the Irish dairy sector and market analysts as a brake on the potential of the Irish dairy sector to respond positively to market opportunities.

As a result the supply management arrangements that currently exist will no longer apply after 2015, and it will be a matter for the processing industry to work with the milk producers, including new entrants, to ensure a coherent and thriving dairy industry post quotas.

In the meantime, I will, of course work to ensure that the dairy industry can continue to develop in the manner envisaged in Food Harvest 2020 Report, supported by a strong and effective Common Agricultural Policy after 2013, and in the meantime by schemes such as the Dairy Investment Scheme, the Dairy Efficiency Programme, and the taxation measures introduced to support the farm sector in Budget 2011, included the increased stock relief to encourage participation by young farmers in dairy farm partnerships.

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