I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 36 and 53 together.
As I have already announced, I am setting up four consultative groups, one each for beef, milk, cereals and rural development in order to ensure that a wide range of expertise will be available to me during the negotiations on the Agenda 2000 proposals. The group on milk has been already established and the composition of the groups on beef and cereals and their terms of reference will be finalised very soon. The intention is that the groups will include farmers, processors and others involved in the relevant sectors, including officials of my Department.
A group representative of the dairy sector has been considering broad policy options for the future development of the sector since February 1996. This group will now act as the consultative group on Agenda 2000.
Commissioner Fischler visited Ireland on 30 October, 1997 to discuss the Agenda 2000 proposals with interested parties.
It is my intention to ensure that the farm organisations and other interests will be fully consulted as the negotiations on Agenda 2000 progress.