The hen harrier project in Slieve Aughty is now winding down, as is Burren Life. Farmers farming in designated areas are now receiving less money than they did before. Initially, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, said they would receive as much under ACRES. It is now abundantly clear to everybody that they are getting less money. When I pointed this out to the Tánaiste towards the end of his tenure as Taoiseach, he said it was not good enough. I have raised it consistently since. The last I heard from the Minister was that he would ask his officials to look into it, which is kind of the political equivalent of saying, "Ask your mother". I have not heard back since. When you ask one parent and they say ask the other parent, it goes over and back until you stop asking. They are now winding down. This is the last opportunity. It is good enough or is it not good enough? If it is not, will the Government provide funding for farmers in designated areas who are farming environmentally sensitive lands to a high standard and getting less money for it than they did previously?

My late mother, God rest her, always responded.

Did she? The Tánaiste must have got his forthrightness from his father then, I suggest.

If it was not approved by the mother, you were in deep difficulty in getting any subsequent approval. I am a great admirer of the hen harrier project. It was outstanding, as was the Burren Life project. We achieved meaningful gains. The challenges with ACRES and new schemes is that these schemes became somewhat of a victim of them in the levels of support available. I spoke to the Minister. I will speak to him again. The Department of agriculture needs to be more innovative in these matters. The farmers like them. They were co-operative and helpful and enjoyed the outcomes. It was a win-win. In agriculture and farming, we need a strong agrifood industry. We need to work and co-operate with farmers, which was manifested in these schemes.