I thank the Minister for giving a very comprehensive reply to my question. I have long felt that we are doing very nicely in this very important sector vis-à-vis other member states which is of vital importance to my own constituency of Wicklow, and it is great to get confirmation of this now. If I am in order I would like to ask the Minister if he has the projected figures for the next couple of years and if we will continue to move in that progressive direction in that sector?

I am very happy to give the Deputy that assurance. The present indications are that the graph will continue upwards. Such has been our success I had to seek special permission from the Commission to revise the basis on which sheep numbers in Ireland are calculated. They agreed to do this. I hope I will have to go back to them next year and the following year to ask for a further revision upwards.