The evidence suggests it is. That hill farmers in Donegal had to rely on research from the North of Ireland for information on how they can best utilise their sheep to comply with European environmental regulations and continue to draw down support was damning in that equivalent research has not been carried out in the South.

The committee is going through the process of hearing from all farming organisations and relevant interested parties and all the submissions are available to be viewed. It is now time for honesty about the way agriculture is being dealt with and supported throughout the country, in particular as we go into another round of CAP negotiations. That is my view and that of farmers to whom I have spoken in recent weeks and I would like to hear the witnesses' opinions in that regard.