Ms Lorna Meaney:

There is a lot of work being done through the calf stakeholder forum, or on dairy and beef products by Teagasc. In industry we have the sexed semen project, which seems to be taking off. We have had a decrease in the number of dairy male calves born this year, which maybe indicates that the sexed semen project is actually taking off. A ten-point action plan on support for the dairy calf beef systems was announced by the Minister, and we also have the dairy beef welfare scheme to promote commercial beef value in calves. I think there is a budget of €25 million for that over the next four years. All of those things are there to try and support the industry as well but I suppose we are moving off topic.