Mr. Tadhg Buckley:

GAEC 9 specifically relates to the percentage of land that is dedicated to non-productive features. Originally, it was proposed that it would just be for arable land but there is now potential for it to be extended to all land. The key message on GAEC 9 and the other conditions as well is that there must be flexibility at member state level to ensure that when we apply GAECs at a member state level, it is done in an appropriate fashion that minimises the impact on farmers. For instance, in the context of GAEC 9, more than 6% of all the land in Ireland is under hedgerows or individual trees. As Mr. Cullinan mentioned, hedgerows sequester significant amounts of carbon. That should be taken into account when we are looking at non-productive areas. GAECs must be applied in an appropriate manner at member state level. We cannot take a GAEC and make it even more-----