Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is the point I am trying to make in terms of the requirement, per se, in terms of how imaginative it is possible to be in its framing. If people are not in compliance by the end of this period, incentives will be needed to get them there.

To return to the point made by Deputy Fitzmaurice in respect of farm contractors, I find it bizarre that there is no problem grant-aiding people in Dublin, who probably have a bus stop outside their door, to move from a diesel vehicle to an electric one, but the Department cannot grant-aid farm contractors to move to a particular type of technology that would be of substantially more benefit to the environment. In the context of interactions with the EU, we need to ensure we have imaginative proposals that actually allow money to be targeted at areas that are proven in terms of delivering.

Reference was made to mixed swards. Mr. Nolan spoke about their value in terms of sequestration. That is almost becoming accepted. I ask him to provide an outline of the impact those types of swards have in terms of nitrates and whether there are measures that could be used that would encourage derogation farmers to make that shift. Is there evidence they have been making that shift already? If so, how can we accelerate that?