Mr. Dale Crammond:

I thank the Deputy for the question. She is absolutely right. It is also a critical issue for the beef sector. At the moment, approximately 60 % of beef output comes from the dairy herd and, therefore, any reduction in dairy cow numbers arising from any changes in the derogation would have obvious impacts on the beef sector's output. For the first time, as Mr. Mulvihill mentioned, EY is doing an economic analysis of this. For the first time the beef sector has been included in that and there will be a separate module looking specifically at the impact on the beef sector. We now have to walk with our colleagues in the dairy industry and all stakeholders to do what we can to help to address the water quality challenge. It is a little bit different. On a beef farm, let us be honest, it tends to be more an issue of phosphorous, whereas from a dairy point of view it tends to be more a nitrogen issue. There are huge opportunities for beef farmers to get involved in working with the local authority waters programme, LAWPRO, and engage on the phosphorous issue. We are very much lock and stock with the dairy industry on this issue because we see the huge threat to our industry and the obvious economic impact that has on many parts of the west of the country, such as the Deputy's area, where the dairy industry would not be very strong, but the beef industry would be prominent.