Mr. John Lee:

The general block exemption regulations are essentially what states are allowed to do without having to notify. There are several different articles under the environmental protection element. These set out what states are allowed to do and the thresholds, ceilings and kind of aid they can give to companies. The IDA or any of the agencies, for example, once they stay within those thresholds, can provide aid. Once the domestic legislative basis is there, they can provide those aids without having to go through a whole notification process through the EU. The ceilings and thresholds were expanded in relation to environmental aid concerning carbon abatement. The ceilings around research and development are also quite high because this is seen as a public good. Generally speaking, however, unless it is set out in the GBER, it cannot be done. This would be the overarching structure around it.