Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

That is just as well, since if he had such feelings, he would burst into tears. I was very close to that myself when I saw what was happening this morning.

The points raised by several other speakers are valid and should be borne in mind by the Minister. The whole question of the future of food and food products in this country must be measured against the competition that we face from importers. When one tables questions inquiring about this, one gets bland answers about our being in the European Union and having to accept competition. That is not the question. All we want is to be able to monitor such developments so we can measure the growth in imports and determine whether exports are keeping pace; it is as simple as that.

I am not happy with the proposal or with many other things that have emanated from the Minister's Department. I hope that redemption will come for the poor victims of such policies in recent years. I wish those at the Ard-Fheis every success, but I beg the Minister of State not to do to them what he has done to the rest of the country.

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