Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is obvious that the FDII's priority is to have the code introduced on a statutory basis, regardless of what happens in Europe. While Mr. Kelly welcomes the progress being made in Europe and the possibility that the code will be introduced on a statutory basis in time, we are much further ahead with the Irish process and have been for some time. That is the important message to be noted.

We will hear next from the delegates from the IFA. We will also hear from the representatives of another willing multiple. The representatives of one multiple have so far decided that they do not want to meet us and on foot of this, we will write a report which we will feed to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and also, I envisage, into the passage through the Houses of the consumer and competition Bill. I do not want to pre-empt what the committee will do, but if we believe we should do so, we may decide to recommend the tabling of amendments on Committee Stage. I thank Mr. Kelly.