Mr. John Keane:

I might bring Mr. Fitzgerald in on this, although I know I said that the last time.

In regard to what our succession scheme looks like in the context of CAP, it looked like a support payment for the older farmer. Similar to what happened in the previous one, for a period of five years, there was a stepped payment with the transfer of land for the young farmer over that period of time as well. That support payment provided to the older farmer is provided on a stepped basis, on a yearly basis, based on the percentage of the land that is transferred to the younger generations. We also looked at it in the context of the previous scheme, which was called the early retirement scheme, and the need for the older farmer to completely separate himself or herself from on-farm activity. We recognised that was neither a healthy relationship nor feasible, relevant or practical for the older generations to completely leave the wellingtons at the back door and never go further than that. There has to be recognition within that that the older generations stepping back from farming still have a role within the farm business, whether that be advisory, herding the cattle or travelling to the local mart. That social element for the older generation is intrinsically important to ensure their own well-being and their value of place, because we recognise that being in a sector for 30 or 40 years and putting a blunt end at the end of it and stopping one morning is not conducive for the well-being of the older generation.

That support payment tapered out over a period of five years as well as the land transaction for the young farmers, the financial contribution from young farmers and the financial understanding of young farmers being developed over that period has been a critical part of it.