I am delighted that at long last this revised package is in place and I hope it will be fully availed of by the farming community. Perhaps I should raise the question of the delay since the Minister mentioned it in his reply. Does the Minister accept, now that much of the silage has been made and other problems have arisen, that because of the delay in the introduction of this package the Minister and the Government bear a large measure of responsibility for problems that have already arisen during the course of this year?

No matter what is achieved one is always blamed for what has been done in the past. To the extent that there is any blame attaching, the Deputy should look behind at his own benches. I achieved a unique package in March of this year which had to get agreement from every member state and it applies nowhere else. The implementtation of the details of the scheme has to be worked out through all the structures of the committee, and anyone who knows anything about European procedures will know that this was the most expeditious programme ever achieved. Some examples of matters that have to be cleared with every member state are, first, that there will no longer have to be a farm plan; second, that dairy farmers will not be excluded — that is new and contrary to any EC proposals up to this — and, third, no longer will farm accounts be required. All these are new. So much else that has been done here is not just new but absolutely unique. Those who make complaints about delays should introduce themselves to the realities of European negotiations. They will find that the Commission were not just using words for the sake of it when they congratulated us on the expeditious manner in which we got through this unique package. In other words, the Deputy should not blame me for what did not happen last year.

Is it not the situation that this revised package was cleared by the Commission last November and that at that stage the very minimum that the Minister should have been doing was preparing the draft regulations so that they could have been submitted for approval immediately? Last March this was not done. The Minister has to bear a share of responsibility for the delay.

We are having repetition now.

What was passed by the Council in March had not been agreed by the Commission in November. The Deputy should check his facts and how things are done in Europe. There are some behind him who could tell him the realities.

The Minister for the Environment announced it in November.

What was agreed in March was the framework for the increased level of European Community funding which, in itself, was a major boost for this country at a level of 70 per cent.

The Minister applied for 50 per cent and the Commission gave 70 per cent.

What has to be put in place here is the details of the scheme. It is over now and it does not serve anyone's purpose to imply that there was a delay on our part. The Deputy can check with the Commission and the other member states.

I know my facts.

There are too many Deputies offering. If they will be brief I will try to facilitate them. I will call the Deputies who have indicated to me but I expect brief questions, otherwise I shall go on to the next question.