Mr. Eamon Corley:

I am coming to that. Deputy McConalogue asked about producer groups, our involvement with them and what we were doing. We hope to set up a producer group in every county. We have a problem with the legislation that has been introduced. There is no official producer group in this country yet and we think we know why. There must be a definite commitment to this process on the part of the meat factories. We have clarify that. There is a requirement for physical meetings. That can be reconsidered in light of modern technology and how busy farmers are. There is also a requirement for reports to be given to the Department. We do not see the need for that. This is intended to improve farmers' well-being.

A point about calves was raised. I do not have any problem at all with answering that question. This movement has taken in people from meat factories and other organisations as well as calf exporters. We have an exporters forum in which we engage with exporters because we think they all offer part of the solution. We believe the Department made a mistake. The Department reduced the levy from €4.50 to €1.20. That money should have been set aside to build a lairage in France.