Let me ask a two part supplementary question. The first part relates to the Minister's comments on the reclassification proposals. In relation to the modification of the reclassification proposal which was lodged by the Minister on 4 November, will he confirm or deny that the proposal as at present framed excludes dairy cows in the areas proposed to be reclassified? Secondly, in relation to the suckler cow herds, will the Minister accept that we are facing a national emergency in regard to the drop in cow numbers, projected at 180,000 over the next few years? Despite the defensive position which the Minister has adopted, will he accept that there is now a need for a major comprehensive programme in an effort to arrest that trend at this late stage which could involve not only the suckler cow herd but a whole variety of areas?

I do not know how relevant that is to the question but if there is an emergency, which I do not accept there is, it has existed for the past five years. It is a little inconsistent for Deputies opposite to make complaints when action is being proposed when they had nothing at all to say when nothing was being done.

Will the Minister reply to the first part of my question in regard to disadvantaged areas?

That is a separate matter.

There are half a dozen Deputies offering. I want to disabuse Deputies of the notion that we may debate this matter now. I am now calling Deputy Avril Doyle, to be followed by Deputy Davern.

We will come back to this matter. The Minister will not escape.

This question has got to reach a conclusion.