Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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All Deputies are aware from when we compiled the report that this is the real sticky issue. Whatever is going on in the Veterinary Council, Deputy McConalogue is the Minister. That is the bottom line. He is the one who can call it. We do not want a watery answer. We do not want words and phrases like "may", "hopefully" and "we will look at it". We want clarification on this. We want the Minister to tell us straight out that he is going to facilitate this on Report Stage. If he does that, everyone will be reasonable. We cannot have a watery sort of a thing whereby the word "might" is used or it is stated that we will talk about this and than and then look at the matter for Report Stage. We understand the need for the Minister to specify that he can introduce regulations but, to be honest about it, we need definite clarification. This is a big sticking issue in the whole aspect of this Bill. Regardless of the Veterinary Council or who is whispering in his ear trying to turn him a different way, would he please do this for farmers? This is the one thing I will ask of him. We are not going to be unreasonable regarding the Bill. In fairness, we have all put a great deal of work into it. We have made our views known throughout the process. It is a frightening and very dangerous way to say we will look at this on Report Stage and we will talk to the Veterinary Council of Ireland. We do not know whether we are coming or going. In fairness to all the Government Deputies, they would support what I am saying in terms of what we have talked about and put together. There is no point in us even submitting reports if nothing is going to be taken on board.