Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

It is important that we focus on how good the European Union has been to us.

The Leas-Cheann Comhairle is a vice-president of the AWEPA, the Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa, and chairman of its very busy Irish section. We had a very worthwhile meeting last night with guests from a number of African countries when issues relating to agriculture and food were raised. Unfortunately, many colleagues were unable to attend.

As I listened to the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Kitt's remarks I considered the importance of the question of food in Ireland and Europe. If we face challenges in this regard, the people of Africa certainly do. It is important that we support them in this regard. Agriculture is the most climate sensitive of all industries and must be made sufficiently robust to withstand the effects of global warming. As I listened to Deputy McGrath I remembered a script sent to me by Senator Barack Obama of a speech he made on climate change. He made the point that we did not take climate change seriously and assumed that food would continue to be plentiful for the rest of time. In fact, we face a huge challenge. I am glad people, including the next President of the United States, are taking an interest in these matters. It is good that we, on a Thursday afternoon with a packed Visitors Gallery of students from schools throughout the region, take the opportunity to support what is being said and done in this regard. This subject might not get headlines but it is an important one.

I am no more interested in food than anyone else. However, I had a health scare about nine years ago when I had a heart bypass operation. At the time I thought about many things, including my attitude to food. I have since tried to eat more fish, chicken and vegetables. A debate such as this brings the importance of such issues home to us all.

See this speech in context