Mr. Paud Evans:

I will respond to Deputy Ó Cuív's query about people destroying habitats and so on. I ask him to recall my initial comments on the new regime. I said that the number of entitlements that people will hold going forward will be based on the number of eligible hectares determined in 2013 or in 2015, if that is lower. We will ask people to think very carefully when making their declaration. If they want to be fully protected going forward, then they must ensure that they only claim for eligible land in 2015.

With regard to the decision to use entitlements rather than payments, these people will be fully paid under the new regime without the need to take a match to their land, or whatever the case may be, which has consequences.