Professor John McNamara:

Deputy Healy-Rae is a publican. What he sees is what our research is showing, which is that farmers are low alcohol and substance users on average. Farmers are working in isolation. Excellent research has been done in the University of Galway regarding older farmers and meeting at marts. We are looking at ways to progress that work.

Senator Collins talked about ATVs. There is competency-based training, based on QQI. There are numerous providers available. On filling out forms, there is a farm advisory service, with 800 advisers helping farmers personally to get them done..

We are aware of the green ribbon campaign and we have supported it previously. We will certainly do it. Deputy Brady's point about a sticker is a follow-on from our leaflet. We would absolutely be happy to go with that.

Regarding communications, we seek to help farmers to comply with relevant regulations. We never in any way wish to be alarmist from a Teagasc point of view.