Mr. Paul Lynam:

The veterinary agreement will reduce the need for checks and the export declarations. The problem is that the EU is asking for dynamic alignment for the UK going forward, so it would have to align to future changes regardless of what they may be, while the UK just wants a mutual recognition to be put in place. There is a bit of a distance between both of those areas. What we have put into the mix regarding getting a regulatory agreement in advance of the TCA being established is a similar pathway, which is to agree on principles of high standards in both areas. It is a mixture of the UK's approach and the EU's approach. We agree a framework going forward on common high standards based on the existing standards that are in place. That could lead to a veterinary agreement. A veterinary agreement could solve a lot of the problems we have going forward, via easements and also in terms of the difficulties with the Northern Ireland protocol. The Senator is correct, it is a key piece of the puzzle to overcome.

Regarding the green agenda, it is possible, if we realise Ireland's ambition and the potential for offshore wind, that we could become a net exporter of energy. That would be a phenomenal achievement. I should preface that by stating that we would have to make some changes to our planning system, which is slowing down the development of many offshore and foreshore wind energy projects. We have a few asks with the Department that I am happy to share with the committee.

In itself, offshore wind development between the UK and Ireland is also a multibillion euro supply chain. There is significant potential in the green energy agenda. I hope we will get a veterinary agreement, but it is not a certainty. Both sides will need to meet somewhat in the middle, as they did coming to the end of the TCA negotiations.