Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)

I thank colleagues on this side of the House who spoke in support of the motion. I particularly welcome the support we received from the Labour Party. I thank the Members on the opposite side who went to the trouble of reading the motion and addressing it in their contributions.

I wish to refresh Members' memories as regards the motion. It relates to consumer information and substantial transformation, the loophole through which a coach and four is being driven in order to facilitate the marketing and passing off of Brazilian beef to consumers here as an Irish product. It also relates to concerns regarding the viability of beef, pig and poultry producers' operations as a result of the difficulties they are experiencing in accessing affordable feed because of the failure to introduce a synchronised regulatory regime between the United States and the European Union. Very few Members opposite, with the exception of the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, and Deputy White, actually went to the trouble of reading the motion.

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