Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There seems to be a lot of concern on the really marginal lands in the west where many people put cows out on commonages and very poor grazing land. The Department's star rating will give one the equivalent of a lowland sheep, but when it comes to viability in the harsher conditions of parts of Leitrim, Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Kerry, it will not suit the GAEC.

Many farmers produce their own replacement animals instead of going on the market and buying them. Will it be a big challenge for them to get their replacements up to four or five stars without going on the market? If they go on the market, will they get something that they think suits their particular land?

Since AI is out of the question on an offshore island like Inishbofin, will each farmer, irrespective of herd size, be required to own four- or five-star stock?