Mr. Bill Callanan:

That is a different topic but I am comfortable with answering. On the derogation overall, there is a format in terms of our engagement with the Commission, which requires three presentations to the nitrates committee, which meets four times a year. We have completed those three presentations. The last one was on 19 September. Overall, the presentations were comprehensive and well received by other member states.

There is engagement at a political level. Recently, the Minister met Commissioner Roswall, who is responsible for this area, and issued her an invitation to visit Ireland, which is to be taken up some time in November.

There is engagement at the level of officials on a couple of aspects. One is the development of our nitrates action programme, which is the underlying set of actions and criteria for all farmers, not just derogation farmers, but also the evidence in terms of derogation. To explain, the big issue is that Ireland has always implemented compliance with the habitats directive in term of nitrates. That has been at plan level. Increasingly, however, European Court of Justice, ECJ, judgments since 2018 have identified the need for a more granular approach, which is what we are currently scoping out and developing. This will be subject to engagement with the Commission, which has asked for assurances about compliance on that side.