Mr. Pat Cleary:

I want to respond to Deputy McConalogue on how we see the CAP structure following the next review. Carbon trading is already taking place globally and carbon credits are being bought. I will provide a specific example. Qantas in Australia bought the rights for 450,000 hectares of cover crops. It is growing mustard as a cover crop. It is using it as a biofuel for its aircraft but the quantity it will produce will be insignificant. What Qantas bought are the rights for the 450,000 hectares for carbon credits so, obviously, trading has already started on the positive side. Do I want to see a carbon tax? Absolutely not. We have enough of penalties.

Senator Paul Daly asked about the silver bullet. This committee did an excellent job on the report on the future of the tillage sector. My silver bullet for our sector is very clear. I would like to see more Irish arable produce being used for feed and food products for Irish domestic consumption.