Mr. Dermot Kelleher:

I agree. Not much work can be done on the national strategic plan until the job has been completed at EU level. We must ensure all the co-funding and other promised funding is provided, including the €1.5 billion from the carbon tax. There must be no three-card trick whereby one fund is used to cover the other. We have had a lot of discussions at the CAP committee as well. There will have to be a plan and we will have to look after the farmers who are in need of help. Some need more help others and some sectors are in dire straits. We need to look after them.

Without going around in circles, my grandmother used to say to me long ago, "Remember boy, enough always wants more." We have people out there living on a fixed income of €8,000 or €10,000 a year, yet we are afraid that fellows on €70,000 or €80,000 will be upset if we take a few pounds off them. We must be fair in our dealings with everyone. Using hectares might be a crude measure. The whole system must be looked at, including what each person is drawing down.