Mr. Brendan Gleeson:

We do. There is a subsidy relating to the scheme that was also intended to keep the cost for farmers down. It only relates to that scheme, however, it does not relate to the operation of knackeries generally. They are critically important services because if one lives out at the end of the Beara Peninsula or somewhere like that, it is a long way to the nearest knackery. It is important, therefore, that they are maintained.

The current subsidy rates for bovines aged over 48 months are €30 for the collection, which is paid to the knackeries, and €78 per animal which is paid to the category 1 rendering operators because these animals will go from the knackery and are then rendered and sent for destruction. The cost of collection of those animals to the farmer is capped at €54. If we did not pay the subsidy, that cost to the farmer, notwithstanding the fact that I am sure farmers think it is extraordinarily high, would be significantly higher. If we did not have the subsidy-----