Mr. Liam Herlihy:

I would very much see the money as coming from public funds. We can only get so much revenue from contracts that we win so they must be funded as well.

As chairman - and I am almost apologetic given that I am in place only a wet week - I would not be doing the role justice if I was not bold enough to identify the three key areas that I consider to be issues for the future. I ask the committee to take note of them and I have no doubt that we will be back to discuss them with members. The Deputies and Senators are the people on the ground in their areas and they want a progressive and dynamic agriculture and also an appropriate Teagasc to lead the latter in the future. I like to think we are all joined at the hip in that regard.