Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Murphy would want to talk to some of the farmers in Leitrim. They will tell him what they think of gold-plating. I understand this, having stood in the middle to some extent. I will not call it "gold-plating". Whatever it is, it probably contributes to the fact that material errors in that area of agriculture largely are quite low. However, as Mr. Murphy says, there are other reasons for that as well.

On the idea of a results-based approach, it sounds good on one level but, on another, a benchmark is needed to start with. How objective is it going to be? Is Mr. Murphy's objectivity the same as the objectivity of the person assessing this? If it is box-ticking, that may be a little easier; if a blade of grass grows 3 cm or a piece of red clover grows 3 cm instead of 2.999 cm, that is acceptable. Although in ways it sounds attractive, in other ways it is a minefield. That is for another meeting, not for today.