Disadvantaged Areas and the Milk Levy
Bruton asked whether Ireland’s disadvantaged areas could be exempted from the EEC milk levy. Hussey said earlier efforts had failed but expected the Minister to raise the issue at the next price review.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if areas of the EEC are exempt from the EEC milk levy; if he has made representations to have disadvantaged areas in Ireland similarly exempted; and, if so, the date of such representations.
Comment on this
Mountain and hill areas listed pursuant to Art 3 (3) of Directive 75/268/EEC, of which there are none in Ireland, are exempt from the application of the co-responsibility levy on milk.
Every effort was made by my predecessor to have these exempted areas extended to include other disadvantaged areas such as exist in this country and elsewhere but these efforts were unsuccessful and the levy regulation in its present form became law on 17th May last. No useful purpose would have been served by making further representations after that date.
Comment on this
Would the Parliamentary Secretary undertake that the Minister will make representations in the context of the next price review with a view to having disadvantaged areas excluded from the milk levy?