Ms Sharon Murphy:

Yes, exactly. It would very much have been an issue for them. Our farming system is different, so this alternation is very significant for them. Otherwise, the whole process of simplification is intended to continue. The Commission has done surveys and Irish farmers have contributed to them. The next stage of this process is to meet and interview individual farmers. The Commission has said it wants to continue looking at this issue to try to address matters from the perspective of farmers.

Regarding the discussion on the next CAP, it is early days for it but Ministers have met and considered matters like this. There is a strong viewpoint that we must ensure we continue this simplification process and try to keep a focus on it. It has been the objective before but has not been realised. We must now really focus on it as we move forward. We would expect to see the next initial proposals on the CAP in mid-2025. These would be written proposals at that stage. We are, therefore, examining this aspect. In terms of the other GAECs, on the soil, that is GAECs 5 and 6, and so on, I am not anticipating any need for sampling in this regard, but I ask Mr. Moloney to confirm this point.