Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Conway. It is about striking the balance between increasing the number of participants and ensuring good payments for those who participate. The EIP schemes of which there were a number of over the past few years and of which there will be more in years ahead was very much about piloting new initiatives so that we could learn from them and then incorporate them on a much wider scale. That is what is happening now as regards the Burren EIP and it is also what is happening in case of the hen harrier EIP, for example. They are being brought to a much wider audience, the environmental benefit is being increased and they are being learned from. I know the transition brings challenges and my officials have been engaging with the Burren programme around that transition. I have had many discussions with Senator Dooley, Deputy Crowe, Deputy Carey and Senator Conway on this matter and I had committed that I would come back this week as regards a meeting. I will engage with them to facilitate a meeting for some time next week.