We have not. The Deputy's position is that Europe should set that level.

It is his position. That is what he has said here today.

The Deputy is saying that I should go over to Europe and decide arbitrarily what should happen on convergence. My position is clear.

We need to be able to have a national consultation over the summer on this matter involving farmers from Donegal to Kerry and from Wexford to Meath. We must look at all the issues inside and out and then decide.

I do not see it as my role to go out unilaterally and arbitrarily at European level and set convergence without consultation with farmers across the country.

The Deputy was obviously not paying attention because I did not say that. I said I would continue convergence during the transition period. Since my appointment as Minister, there has not been sufficient time to do that for this year. I will consider the position as it will impact next year. I hope we will be able to agree a national position on the next CAP in advance of that. I have been always consistent and the Deputy should have paid a little more attention. The Deputy's party got it wrong in taking a position…

My position is not letting Europe set the cap, which is the Deputy's position.

More than that, I will ensure that I engage with farm organisations and farmers right across the country on this issue. The Deputy and every Member of the Oireachtas will have an opportunity to have an input to that discussion.

The Government, having consulted with the Deputy and everyone else, will then formulate our national CAP policy.

This is a Government role.

More importantly, I will bring it to farmers.

The budget is only marginally up on the previous seven-year programme. The Government fought to ensure there would be no cut to the funding. I wish it were far more. We fought to get our allocation as high as we could. There, unfortunately, has been downward pressure at EU level on the percentage of the overall EU budget that goes towards the CAP over recent years and decades. It has been, and will be, my objective as Minister to do all I can to support farm incomes. That is why, in terms of our national budget, th…

There undoubtedly has been pressure applied at European level. The Deputy also made a point about fighting against convergence and that is not the case. We must have a discussion about our national CAP plan over the summer. What Deputies Conway-Walsh and Carthy are saying is that Europe should dictate what we do on this matter and that I, as Minister, should go over to Europe and seal a deal there without consulting with farmers. I have not taken a position on convergence yet.

I will be consulting with farmers on the matter because it has significant implications for everyone.

We should not allow Europe to dictate the pace on this matter.

I thank Deputy Sherlock. I will try to be brief. On the funding for climate action measures, the Deputy will be aware of the situation regarding the proposed CAP, whereby a minimum of 20% of Pillar 1 will now go towards eco-schemes. My objective there will be to make sure that however they are framed, those eco-schemes are accessible for farmers in order that they can actually participate in them but also that leakage from that is absolutely minimised so the farmer can retain that payment. While they will have to d…

That half minute is very important. Tremendous time has been given to the climate action Bill, both at the pre-legislative scrutiny stage and again in the Dáil. There is also a necessity here that we have to move on with it. If this was given all the time for every amendment, we could be here until next year debating it.

We must move on but tremendous consideration has been given to it. The programme for Government commitments, particularly regarding biogenic methane and the socioeconomic importance of agriculture, are transposed into the Bill. That is really important. Ultimately then, this will come back to the Government to make the decisions around it. There is an obligation on the Government to follow the programme for Government, as well as the legislation, in that regard.

I am satisfied that the programme for Government commitments have been transposed into the climate action Bill with regard to ensuring that the socioeconomic importance of agriculture is recognised by the Government, and that the science around biogenic methane is very much central to all considerations, both at the Climate Change Advisory Council and by the Government thereafter. Ultimately, this will be a decision for the Government, looking across all sectors to see how best we can achieve our target. The progra…

I thank the Deputy. His points on convergence speak to the challenges that arise in different parts of the country in this regard and also the importance of having a full national debate and consultation on the issues. They also speak to the fact it would not be appropriate for a Minister, without having had that consultation and full engagement with farmers of all types, from Donegal to Cork and every other county, to go off to Europe, as Sinn Féin and some others would say I should, and decide the matter arbitrar…