Mr. Michael Earls:

I will take that question. We have had a lot of contact with the Department over the past nine months in particular. I remind the Senator we only acquired the technology approximately 18 months ago. Some eight months ago, the Minister visited EASYFIX and we briefed him on what we had. We brought him to some farms where the technology was working. He was very impressed at the time with what we were doing. Some months later, An Taoiseach was at EASYFIX to see how it worked and, again, to get more information on what we are doing etc. What we presented to both individuals was very well received because the proof and back-up are there. The independent back-up is there and all we are doing is relaying what we know are proven technologies. The Department is well aware of what we are doing; there is no question at all about that. We had a subsequent meeting with the Minister in Mayo at one of the mart visits he was doing at the time regarding it so I have no doubt the Department is very well versed on both technologies.