Ms Niamh Campbell:

The answer is “Yes”. Heading 5 of the MFF is administration. I am being shown information from various sides but the answer is “Yes”. This is not part of the MFF per se. There is an amount for administration. A number of member states, including Ireland, would like to see the same restraint in member states being mirrored in the administration budget of the institutions. In the Commission proposal there was a 5% reduction in staffing levels in the institutions. There is more information in terms of staff regulation which we can make available to the committee. It is not part of the MFF discussion itself; it is the staff regulation discussion. We can provide the information if Deputy Donnelly would like it.