Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On a point of information, the sectoral agricultural session will take place on 10 and 11 March and, up to that point, the committee considers that it has a role to help in the negotiations by having discussions with colleagues in other member states to reiterate the position. We started off a year ago in Poland listening to people say they wanted a flat rate across Europe and not gradual convergence. It was perceived that the countries that would benefit significantly would be better off, and they might be for a year or two, but inevitably costs track income and generally they do not fall as quickly as they increase when they track up income; in the reverse that does not work so well. That is a point that was made here in the context of internal convergence.

I will ask Deputy Deering to take the Chair. I apologise for having to leave. I thank Mr. Moran for his time and I know the discussions on the Common Fisheries Policy have yet to follow.