John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I was making the point that when the regulations were presented in the EU Commission in July 2004, it proposed reducing the 100% grant to 40%. It has now gone to50%, and 60% for less favoured areas. However, it is still 40% short of the current 100%. The negotiations will continue next Monday and I will keep the Senator informed about what is happening. I take on board the point he is making that it is important to get the maximum grant for Irish farmers to continue to plant.