Ms Eibhlín O'Sullivan:

That is the point I was making a while ago. The Department is drafting the operational programme. It has to be completed by June. If this is not included, we will not have recourse to this funding. That is why it is very important.

I would like to pick up on the point made by Mr. O'Donoghue. The legislation is there. Unfortunately - this is the way the EU works - it has to be translated into all the member states' languages. This is happening at the moment, but it takes time. The point we are making is that is it can be fast-tracked. The UK and Northern Ireland have decided to go ahead and provide the funding. As I mentioned earlier, Commissioner Damanaki made it clear in her statement that this legislation can be used for these precise purposes, in which there have been economic losses as a result of adverse climatic events. Up to 100% funding can be provided. It would be remiss of us not to utilise this opportunity. I understand the Minister's point that the fund is technically not yet in place. That is true today, but the fund will be in place in a matter of weeks. If we miss this opportunity, we will not have another one for a number of years.