Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator. This proposal from the Commission is at a very early stage and has not entered the trilogue process yet. Members will be very aware, in the European context, how much proposals change from beginning to end. One recent example is the nature restoration directive and how much it has changed through political intervention and work to ensure it is a sustainable proposal and does not in any way pressure farmers up and down this country in terms of a mandatory call to re-wet land. It will now have a more encouraging role, where a state can play a bigger part on its own land. The point I am trying to make is that, essentially, this is a very early-stage proposal from the Commission and it has not yet gone into trilogue with the Council and the European Parliament. I have no doubt the Government will have firm views on it as well.