Mr. Edward Carr:

I will address a few points. Deputy Healy-Rae asked about the generation part of it. I said previously that we have a generation of well-educated young farmers who are willing to take on the mantle of carrying on into the next generation. However, clarity needs to be brought to the way we legislate and the way we implement and regulate that legislation. This generation of farmers is the best in class at grassland management. We are the best in the world. We have a breeding policy in dairy that is the envy of everywhere else in the world. That generation is willing to put those technologies through.

We just gave the example that 2,150 farmers were affected by moving the derogation from 250 kg N/ha to 220 kg N/ha. Some 800 of those farmers had small family farms of under 40 ha. They were literally put out of business. It is as simple as that. They were put out of business because of that one decision. There will be another 800 put out of business if we reduce it any further - I am not saying how far back we will go. Do not forget we have that generation and we can be very positive about that. We have a very well-educated generation raring to go to produce food in this country. It is the way we implement legislation that will dictate whether they can do it or not. They are willing to do it.

I will ask Mr. Matthews to address a few other issues the Deputies raised.