Mr. Jack Nolan:

Teagasc has a high-profile energy specialist. Any time there is a question he talks about it and he has done a lot of work on the subject. Advice is one of the key elements of the rural development programme. The Department proposes to give €100 million to encourage farmers to attend discussion groups and engage with advisers because the best way to cause change and become more carbon neutral or carbon efficient is to make each farm more efficient and use less energy, and eventually become an energy hub. There may be a role for planting some of a farm and a combination of farming. I do not think it has to be an either-or scenario but that is my opinion. There is definitely scope in the future for more use to be made of forestry on different types of land.

Today, we are here to talk about regulation. The big international buyers like Danone and Nestlé are now not happy to simply say, "Show us your regulation." They are saying, "Show us your impact on water quality, greenhouse gases and so on." Ireland supplies 15% of the milk powder market in the world. It is a premium market but to maintain our position we must produce to the highest standards and our farmers are becoming more efficient all of the time. In Brussels we are all of the time giving the message that our farmers are at the forefront whether it is producing beef and filling in a carbon navigator, the dairy sector or whatever.

As regards the sugar beet price, I am sorry but I am not sure what it is. What I do know is that before the factories closed here, it was very difficult at the price that was in place. The UK is under pressure even though it has bigger farms and more sunshine. Unless the price is quite high, it is difficult to see an industry here. However, there is a Beet Ireland energy group which states it will bring something back. However, I am not sure what the price is.

As regards using grass in the anaerobic digesters, it costs €40 a tonne to produce grass silage and one will get €25 a tonne. That is what is being spoken about. At present, it does not pay. Maybe it will in the future as we get more efficient. I hope I have covered everything.