Mr. Bill Callanan:

I will make a couple of comments. I do not think anything should be taken from the fact that there is an empty chair between us and the representatives of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. That was not at our request.

We work across Departments in our engagements. An example of that can be seen in our existing agri-environment scheme. We used mapping from the EPA on water quality as a determinant for priority entry to agri-environment schemes. Entrants to those schemes are required to pick actions appropriate to water quality. The current green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, was based on engagement with the likes of the EPA and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. That engagement is there.

There are other examples in the forthcoming CAP strategic plan. A significant amount has been set aside to address the impact of water quality as a joint commitment. Provisions in respect of water are influenced by the food vision report, which identified the ambition of the industry. That was called out in the achievement of regular standards in water. Even Mr. Tom Arnold has spoken in the media about the importance of us, as a collective industry, in supporting his overall objectives. Those considerations and their importance influence our approach.

Senator Lombard, who has left, asked about derogation. He may not be aware that the manager of the ACP, whom I happen to know quite well, has always said that derogation farmers are the first to attend meetings he holds. They are the first to engage and to understand. He said the reality of their engagement with the environment is stark. They ask what they need to do. In our management of the derogation, we brought in a mid-term review in 2019 to look at what needed to be done. My experience of farmers is that they are very engaged. There are undoubtedly issues that are challenging in their introduction but the general direction has been towards farmers asking what they need to do. They are receptive to being honestly and openly advised in that respect. That is my experience.