Ms Gillian Westbrook:

Deputy Fitzmaurice referred to advisers when he spoke about the licensing bodies. As he was talking about plans, I assumed he meant those who draw up the plans. We do not perform that role. We are involved in certification. We are aware that complaints have previously been made about certification costs. The Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association is a not a profit-making company. We have submitted our costs to the Department, which has gone through them all rigorously. We are quite content. Our costs and fees are set by our board of directors, all of whom are appointed by our members by means of proportional representation.

I cannot say anything more. If people are not happy with our fees, there is not an awful lot we can do about it. All we can say is that a return of between €8,000 and €11,000 can be achieved on a payment of between €400 and €600.