Mr. Francie Gorman:

I will make a brief comment on it. What is really penalising and frustrating the small family farmer is the fact that the reduction in the stocking rate will not deliver an improvement in water quality that will make any great difference. Rather, it will impose a huge financial penalty on the farms and in some cases force them out of business. There is no question about that.

I will make a quick comment on planning. Not alone do we want the exemption but we also need the planning process to be reformed properly. It is not fit for purpose. As the Deputy said, there are serial objectors holding up planning applications. It is unacceptable. They are clogging up the system. That is one of the first things that needs to be addressed. I agree with the Deputy.