Mr. Pat McCormack:

The Deputy spoke about the legal opinion. The timing of his information or ripple-effect information is similar to ours. The cross-Border is an issue. If you turn right going out the gate and arrive into freedom to trade or turn left into complex issues, that would have to be addressed. In the past, brucellosis was a hugely challenging issue in this country and it took an all-island approach. From a BVD-eradication perspective, it will be something similar. As Mr. Maher alluded to, our product is sold around the globe in significant proportions and we need to be in a position to stand over what we have and do.

The Deputy mentioned the trained persons. In response to Senator Paul Daly's question, I said it is imperative that the trained responsible operators and veterinary practitioners are in a position to dispense drugs. For example, at the busy time of the year, if there is a Caesarian, a herd test and two veterinaries out on call, it may not be feasible for the farmer to come back in four or five hours. As we move forward, therefore, that is imperative.

The Deputy referred to the availability of fertiliser. Industry sources indicated to us with some confidence that it will be available up to and including the spreading of first-round silage. In 2022, we saw panic and inflation set in and we saw where the profits went. There was a threefold profit increase along the supply chain, which was hugely frustrating given that farmers were paying at an all-time high. That is the last thing we want as we head into 2023.

The Deputy asked a question about 2023 becoming a reference year. The indications to me, as someone who is involved in the Food Vision 2030 dairy group and the beef and lamb group, is that all the talk is about using 2018 at a national level. I suspect there will not be a reference year for individuals but that it will be linked to the available area of land and stocking density as we move forward. I fear that, yet again, we will see an imposition on farmers of the requirement for a fertiliser plan, which would cost them significant sums irrespective of their scale. I issue that word of caution to Deputy Fitzmaurice to be vigilant for that. I do not see 2023 being the reference year. I see 2018 being the year in overall use. It will depend on terms and conditions after that and farming intensity and level.