Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

However, his intransigence on the decision was frightening. That worries me as regards the derogation, our battle to get this decision reviewed and our battle to hold the 200 kg limit into the future. That is an outline of where we are coming from as a committee.

I have introduced some personal issues but as I said at the start, I am a derogation farmer. This is what I am hearing from farmers on the ground and these are the issues with this decision. I know that the Minister is fully aware of the huge effect that this drop from 250 kg to 220 kg will have on farmers. It will cause huge financial hardship and leave farmers uncertain about their future. That is the background. I now invite the Minister to make his opening statement.