Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply. I commend the Minister of State and his colleague the Minister, Deputy Coveney, on the work they are doing. No doubt we will come back to the findings. We need to set aside a significant amount of time, debate and thinking to ensure the viability of smaller farmers. It is crucial to keep a balance economically and socially in the country and it should be one of the Department's priorities as we negotiate our way through the minefield of the CAP reform. I acknowledge the absolute necessity of keeping our commercial farmers large and strong but we must not ignore the 50,000 or 60,000 people whose land holdings are not great but who have a major role to play in food production and the maintenance of the fabric of rural Ireland. It is a matter we will debate further in the coming months. I thank the Minister of State again for his work in the Department and his great commitment and hands-on approach to agriculture.