Mr. Paul Smyth:

It is. The other question the Deputy asked was when this will apply to all animals, which is the real nub of the issue. That will come sooner than we think but at the moment we are still arguing over who pays for this. We could see it being applied to all animals sooner than we might think.

The Deputy asked about the hardship grant and the off-farm limit. Under the new proposals it is proposed that the off-farm income limit would be removed. That would be another change brought about through the forum.

On the marts being at a disadvantage, the pre-movement test is the issue. We must make sure that animals that enter the mart are all on the one footing. Farmers must not be restricted and they must not be blind when they are buying an animal.