Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If I could come in there, that probably brings me on to a point Mr. Callanan made in his opening statement to the effect that he would agree that the best way to secure a derogation and a future for farmers is through a science-led targeted approach, with the whole industry coming together. Mr. Callanan accepted as well that the farming community will not be found wanting in this regard. What that young farmer asked me this morning is if we can assure farmers that it is our default line in these negotiations. We are simply not going to settle for a watered down compromise and that our default line in the negotiations has to be that we want a whole-of-industry approach. We want a multi-agency approach; and we want to bring everyone together. We embrace the science but we need to be given time to complete that journey.