With all due respect, Minister, this is still a new hole, even though that is what your government had promised not to create.
I want to be very clear: everyone here wants to help Ukraine. However, the people in the industry have raised what I think are legitimate fears, including the question of bird flu. If anyone knows the problems that causes, it is you, since you are on the ground. Several countries neighbouring Ukraine have reported cases, but Ukraine has not reported any, although it is a country at war that is being bombed and has no electricity in its cities. I think the people in the industry have raised legitimate fears.
So waiting for the committee's report before issuing those permits would have been the least the Agency could do. Personally, I find this inconceivable.
If specific recommendations are made or there is a massive influx of goods, are you prepared to review this decision before June? The witnesses last week told us they would be prepared to react rapidly if there were massive influxes of goods. However, I was never able to get a specific answer as to how much time it would take. Can you give me some reassurance on that point?