Ms Sinéad McPhillips:

Deputy McConalogue referred to a recent database on climate change by the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, of the United Nations. The Department is engaging strongly with the FAO on the database results. It is a database in development. The FAO has assured us that the results are not comparable between member states. We are engaging to make sure that the right inputs are put into the exercise.

In terms of carbon efficiency and the climate debate, obviously colleagues are very closely involved in that debate and in input to climate action, with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. A lot of our efforts, under the existing world development programme and BEEP, have focused on increasing carbon efficiency further, which has both environmental and economic benefits for farmers.

In most cases, taking actions that increase carbon efficiency also have the benefit of improving economic efficiency to some extent.

Several members mentioned live exports. The committee held a detailed session with some of my colleagues on the question of the Department's responsibilities relating to live exports. I am sure my colleagues will be happy to come back and update the committee on those issues.

Deputy Corcoran Kennedy referred to the skills that are needed in the sector. Knowledge transfer groups are essential for providing information, for peer learning and for addressing the new challenges in a practical way at farm level. The best way to transfer skills is for farmers to work together to discuss common issues.