Mr. Eddie Punch:

We will make the following comments about the €97 million. The farmer contribution is underestimated because the farmer contribution to the herd test programme is a notional figure that is worked out at €450 per head. It is a guesstimate. If we look at the figures for the past four years, there is no increase in the farmer contribution, but that does not stack up in the real world, where vets' fees are going up and the national herd is increasing. In our view, and we did some sampling of our members who are paying more than €450, particularly smaller farmers or people with fragmented holdings, the Department is underestimating the actual cost to farmers of the annual herd test. That is separate from the fact farmers also make a significant labour input.