Mr. Jack Nolan:

On the forestry, it is equally distributed around the country. Under the most recent environmental scheme, 1.6 million trees have been planted already. There are excellent innovative schemes in forestry such as native woodland schemes and so on that are there on the Department's website and it is being encouraged all the time. The Deputy raised the question of feedlots. Ironically, the majority of feedlots are derogations. Today the Minister announced a review of the derogation conditions. There will be more asked of feedlots. The Deputy asked why derogations are not more widespread in Ireland. He referred to Holland. In Holland there is an indoor system where more slurry is produced. Only 10% of methane in Ireland comes from slurry. They are not really viable from an agricultural point of view. There are ten that are regulated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine from an animal by-product point of view. The Deputy asked if we are promoting. We are promoting a grass-based system around the world. This year one of the co-ops broke away from Ornua to go with a grass advertising campaign in the United States. In Germany we get twice the payment for Kerrygold butter as for native German butter. There is definitely a huge push and appreciation for grass. That is what we have to protect.

With regard to anaerobic digestion, there will be a support scheme for renewable heat later on in 2019. We will be supportive of that but it is run by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. It is really for divisional heating systems. There will be more developments in this area.

At the moment, it is not suitable for the majority of farms in Ireland. Farms are smaller.