Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

On Deputy Creed's earlier point on the market mechanism measures, the Commission has strongly pushed for their removal. We have argued trenchantly that the aids to private storage and intervention measures are absolutely essential to ensure that this mechanism will kick in should there be a surge in supply from other continents or a dramatic reduction in demand. In our trilateral discussions we highlighted that issue, that the dairy industry needed those market mechanisms because it gives some stability to the industry in planning. In recent times, say last year, thankfully those measures were not needed.

Either Deputy Sherlock or one of his Labour Party colleagues has a question on climate change. At a recent Council of Ministers meeting I asked that a specific item be included on climate change as it affects agriculture. I spoke to Deputy Sherlock's colleague, Deputy McManus on this issue. A significant demand is being made on agriculture. The Department provided substantial funding through the stimulus of the FIRM fund where widespread research has been undertaken in the past few years and is undertaken. Teagasc, with other authorities, has done extensive research in this area. It goes into the whole area. There has been substantial progress in recent years in reducing emissions but that may not always be given the currency it should.

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