My position on the Commission's proposals was well known. My objectives in the negotiations were to safeguard the benefits to Irish agriculture and to rural economies achieved under the Agenda 2000 agreement and to ensure the best possible level of support and protection of our production base into the future. The agreement which was reached last week in the Council was the culmination of a long negotiating process and was an acknowledgement by all Ministers that it was time to end the uncertainty about the future policy framework and to conclude the process.