Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The first question was on farm retirement, which was given consideration as part of the development of the CAP strategic plan to take us up to the end of 2027. It existed before, in the CAP before last, as a targeted measure to try to bring about generational renewal and specifically as a support for young farmers. The assessment was that as expenditure targeted at a support for young farmers, it was not necessarily the most effective way of doing that. While it acts as an encouragement to land turnover, at the same time it was targeting farmers who were between the ages of 55 and 65 for early retirement. We have many more farmers at pension age already than we would have in the category between 55 and 65 years. The assessment has been made, taking into account the schemes put in place and the direct support of young farmers, that it is better and more effective to steer the funding directly to young farmers, as opposed to the funding of an early retirement scheme. It has not been part of the draft proposals I have put out for consultation.

As the Deputy knows, I have travelled the country over the past couple of months and participated in public meetings in each county. The issue came up on occasion but it was not raised very strongly in that public consultation. The rationale for not including such a provision is that we want to try to use the funds available to support most strongly young farmers.

My mind seems to be going. What was the Deputy's second point?