Mr. Brendan Gleeson:

In respect of marginal land, perhaps the Deputy should tease this out with the ICBF and Sean Coughlan. As far as I am aware, the opposite is the case and four and five stars will produce lighter and more robust and efficient animals that are better suited to marginal land. I do not think it is the case that one is talking about breeding a lowland sheep. It is the case that one is breeding a more robust cow that calves at a younger age, calves more easily, requires less inputs and has more milk for the calf. These things will ultimately save farmers expenditure on feed and vets at calving and improve their overall profitability. They are characteristics that are equally suited to farmers in the west and on marginal land.

I must confess that the situation pertaining to the islands had not occurred to me. The requirements of the scheme are that a farmer must use AI involving a five-star bull or they can rent or lease in a bull, as people do, subject to the normal animal health considerations. A farmer can rent an animal in the same way as they always did.