Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have a couple of specific questions. Is there an agreement on the reference to 2012? Will it apply across the European Union or will it be up to each member state to agree a date? If that is the case, can the date be retrospective?

What is the situation regarding ecological focus areas? There was a suggestion that farmers could pool greening measures in localities, for example a fairly intensive farm could buy greening measures from a nearby farm which was less intensive or more environmentally sensitive.

On reference years, some people retired prior to the initial scheme and are no longer farming. One group is active on this issue. If there is a retrospective reference, does it effectively preclude their re-entry to farming as they will not have drawn down entitlements in a previous year? Deputy Heydon asked for a definition of "active farmers".