independent research I had commissioned from FAPRI-Ireland, I decided that all direct payments for cattle, sheep and arable crops will be fully decoupled from production as and from 1 January 2005. I had already decided that the new dairy premium, to be introduced in 2004, should also be decoupled from production with effect from 2005. The overwhelming weight of opinion in the farming organisations was in favour of full decoupling and this was also reflected at the 40 or so information seminars held by my Department throughout the country. I believe that full decoupling is in the best interests of Irish agriculture and the development of a sustainable, market orientated agri-food sector.