Mr. Gerry Gunning:

These are the type of situations that need to be looked at. We are moving to a new scenario vis-à-vis the single payment, agri-environment and disadvantaged areas being called areas of natural constraint. There is much discussion to be had around the details of all aspects of this. We will probably be back before the committee again. One of the key considerations is funding. Deputy Ó Cuív appeared to be throwing cold water on the rural development side. It is up to the Government to put in place a strong rural development programme. We are arguing for a seven year programme because we will get only one go at addressing this issue. It is important we complement the Pillar 1 payments, which are hugely important everywhere. We also need a strong Pillar 2 to deal with specific targeted issues. One of those issues, with which we have dealt today, is commonages. We would see Pillar 1 as complementing Pillar 2 in this regard. In many ways, the Pillar 2 environmental schemes will be hugely important in the common areas because farmers previously in the agri-environment and REP schemes are the ones who have lost most in terms of cutbacks.