Mr. Michael Doran:

There were questions today on the representation, the board structure and things like that. People putting their names down and being appointed to the board have to take the remit of what our board is. It is about maximising genetic gain for the national herd. As part of corporate governance and the board's strategy, the board signs off on that strategy, and every board member has a role to play in relation to that. People have questioned my own point of view from the perspective that I am now milking cows but I spent 20 years suckler farming. I was a former national livestock chairman in the IFA. I have sat on various things, including the meat and livestock board; I have chaired a Teagasc beef stakeholder forum; I was on the EU beef advisory; and I was on the meat and livestock committee. I have as much experience as many people when it comes to sucklers and an understanding of it.

The thing that is fundamental from my perspective is that ICBF remains independent in relation to the evaluations provided. There is no vested interest in relation to the outcome of those. The structure of ICBF is what has our-----