Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Professor Boyle. I hope that his presentation creates a greater awareness among the public at large. Indeed, it might give a fillip to some of the major Irish companies to do even more in that respect. A lot of those companies are internationally based. However, many of them were significantly aided by the State, directly and through the work of his organisation. It would be great if they were able to put more back into those less developed countries. It would be a great message to send out.

The importance of the work being done by Professor Boyle and his colleagues, including the people out in the field, is such that I suggest we would like to receive a presentation from him on an annual basis to update us on what Teagasc's projects are achieving and on the goals Teagasc is setting for itself. That would help us to get the message out to the wider agrifood sector and to those involved in research and teaching about the contributions that could be made by other public and private organisations. In thanking Professor Boyle and Dr. O'Brien again, I would like to send a unanimous message from all the members of this committee that we appreciate the work of those who are literally in the fields and, as we have heard, the retired people who give voluntarily of their time and provide private resources to make themselves available.