Mr. Brendan Gleeson:

There is a delegated Act at European Commission level. It sets parameters within which member states are required to design a scheme. We designed the scheme but strictly within the parameters laid down in the regulation. In the particular regulation there was a requirement for environmental action, as well as a requirement for a reduction or a restructuring of the herd. That was understandable because it was a market-support scheme. I suppose in looking at it the Commission stated, "If there is a problem with beef prices in Ireland, we cannot have a scheme that will lead to an increase in production. We need a temporary adjustment." This was a temporary adjustment and the parameters were laid down in the regulation.