While I understand a separate question has been tabled on the proposed food safety authority, I will be glad to answer questions on it. The FEOGA and direct payments agency will be established. The proposal has not yet gone to Government so I am not in position to give the final detail. However, it will go to Government within weeks. It will be an independent autonomous agency under the control of the Minister for Agriculture and Food, a sizeable body with staff numbers well in excess of 1,000. The body will be responsible for FEOGA payments, intervention, export refunds, headage payments, premia and agricultural structures. A considerable number of payments will be involved. For example, up to £1 billion per annum is paid in direct payments under FEOGA and support arrangements for the industry. Total payments reach £1.5 billion per annum so we are talking about the involvement of a sizeable number of staff which will entail discussions with the social partners, the unions and staff associations, in particular, which are ongoing. I expect to be in a position to go to Government in regard to this agency within a matter of weeks.
The purpose of setting up the agency is to streamline the payments system, to ensure there are adequate controls and discipline within the system and to free up senior Department staff to give policy advice, which is their core function. Senior staff must have sufficient time to give the best possible advice to the Minister, particularly given the prospect of Agenda 2000 and another GATT round.
Deputy Connaughton raised the question of the efficiency of the payments system. By and large, the system is relatively good, apart from applications which contain errors. The commitments in the charter of rights have largely been met. As far as I am concerned, if it is possible to improve the system we will ensure that is done. There is a continual improvement in the information technology systems there.
In addition, there is also the major question of the controls required by Brussels on the payment of such large amounts of money. That will be a major function of this new unit.