Mr. Michael Davoren:

In adding to what Dr. Dunford has said, I would just like to say that a picture paints a thousand words. Members of the committee are most welcome to visit the Burren. I hope they will take up the invitation, either collectively or with the European deputation. We have had many of them over from Brussels and they are always impressed.

If one puts the environment at the centre, which it is, for our own selfish reasons everybody wants a piece of it. The environmentalists want a pristine environment because that is what concerns them. Europe has demanded that we protect our habitats through legislation, because that is their job. As farmers, we want to earn a living. Doing it like this matches all three demands. That is why there is no fighting. Everybody is getting what they want out of it. The secret is that it is basic common sense. As they say, common sense is very uncommon, which is true.

A question was asked about scrub removal. When farmers are choosing scrub, and I keep going back to the plan for next year, we will invariably take it out where the best land is. I do not want to break my back cutting a hectare of scrub only to discover sheet rock underneath. That would be of no benefit to me. I want to cut the scrub where cattle have access to other patches of grass that have not been taken over. I am doing that work to benefit myself alone. Best of all, I get paid to do it on my own farm. One could not ask for better than that. I thank the committee members for their attention.