Mr. Wesley Aston:

In relation to some of these points, I will just touch on this one at this stage and then come in again if the president leaves anything that he has not touched on.

In terms of trade, the issue, in particular in relation to the North-South movement of products and animals at present, is not even necessarily the customs rates. There are tariffs. It is all sorts of things, such as the non-tarriff barriers. That is going back to this issue of equivalent standards and ensuring we have the veterinary checks and everything put in place. That is the bigger concern because that has to be done over and above the normal traditional customs posts. That is why we are always keen to minimise any disruption between the North and the South in terms of trade. That is why, while one could argue about a special deal, we have been told clearly in Brussels that it is not special status that we are going for. It is encouraging, from our point of view, that any time we have been in Brussels there is a clear recognition of the issue on the island of Ireland. However, in relation to Senator McDowell's point, it does not go as far as recognising that there is an east-west issue. There is a North-South issue on which it is very focused. It does not necessarily see east-west as being its problem and I can understand that. That is a very important issue.

We do want to minimise any potential trading barriers, whether it is tariffs or non-tariffs. Non-tariffs could actually be a bigger issue.