Noel Grealish (Galway West, Progressive Democrats)

——is unfortunate. It does the parties opposite and their argument no service whatsoever. The unprecedented development of the economy is knowledge based and innovation driven and relies on both indigenous and foreign enterprise. Government policies correctly reflect this.

My second point relates to the substance of the motion, namely, unimplementable and unworkable restrictions on farmers, bureaucracy, monopoly, and black markets. All of this is based on the assumptions that the directive contains no provision for exemption criteria being adopted at EU level for certain categories of medicines to be exempted from prescription requirements and that the Minister does not intend to avail of the exemption clause to the maximum extent possible with a view to retaining off prescription in Ireland all products other than intramammaries. Unfortunately for the Opposition, neither of those assumptions is true.

I compliment the Minister for the clarity of her contribution last night. The Opposition often claims that ministerial statements and answers stray from the point. The Minister could not have been clearer. Ireland intends to avail of the extension clause to the maximum extent possible. The Department of Agriculture and Food has already made a submission to the European Commission with a view to retaining off prescription in Ireland all products currently in that category.

Under the draft regulations published by the Minister, veterinary medicines such as wormers and certain vaccines will continue to be available off prescription for the time being and in practice, apart from intramammaries, we will be retaining the essence of the existing prescription and distribution system. I am confident that once the exemption is availed of, Opposition claims of unimplementable and unworkable restrictions on farmers, bureaucracy, monopoly and black markets will not materialise.

My final point is wider in scope. It involves Ireland's relationship with the European Union. We are in a period of reflection concerning the European project brought about by the referendum results in France and the Netherlands. The decision of the French and the Dutch to reject the constitutional treaty was a setback but it has provided us with an opportunity. Some benefits may occur from the refocusing of minds on what we, as a people, actually want from the Union. Issues such as that before the House this evening are typical of motions that generate cynicism concerning the EU, the view that Brussels interferes or imposes regulations against our best interest. I urge the Minister and her Department to continue to work in the interests of the country, farmers and indigenous producers and distributors. The Minister's goal is to implement the EU directive while protecting public and animal health, facilitating our food export trade and minimising costs for producers.

I support the amendment to the motion for these reasons, confident that by availing of the exemption clause to the maximum extent possible, we will retain off prescription in Ireland all products which currently enjoy this status. The Minister and the Government deserve support on this exemption, not wild statements from the Opposition.

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