Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I disagree with Deputy Tom Hayes. We made the correct decision. It was a very difficult decision to make — it was difficult for the industry, our country and everybody involved. However, we made the correct decision and I stand over it, as does the Government. Every party representative I know who spoke on behalf of his or her party echoed that strongly on Saturday night. Earlier I paid tribute to them. In different media programmes I happened to hear or were mentioned to me, people were complimentary of Opposition politicians and their approach, as were farm leaders and the processors. The processors knew the very difficult situation that was emerging.

We live in a single European market. We would not like barriers put up against us in the food industry and we hope we have access to the markets. Product can be moved within the EU when it satisfies EU conditions. I do not know the particular——

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