Mr. Aidan O'Driscoll:

The reserve can be funded in a number of ways, one of which is that there is a take from entitlements sold.

Of course, it is possible to run a national reserve by taking a cut from everybody. I do not know if it is an option that would be taken, but it is available. That is why I say there is a policy decision in the middle of this that I cannot get into.

There were a number of questions on the areas of natural constraint, ANCs. Can the payments be increased? As members will know, the programme for Government makes a commitment to provide additional funding for ANCs in 2018. I assume the extra €25 million will be available for ANCs at that time. It is also true that for 2018 we have to have an ANC redesignation, in other words a reclassification of lands available. ANCs, or disadvantaged areas as they were known, have been around for a long time and farmers are very attached to their payments. It is a huge issue involving 100,000 farmers. The slightest suggestion of any change in this scheme always brings people out in a rash. What are the criteria?