Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Both of those pieces of legislation are due in 2011, with the sale of alcohol Bill likely to be published before the health information Bill. A debate on agriculture is a matter for the Whips to decide. A food harvest report has set out a development path for the agrifood industry over the coming five and ten years and in my view this would merit a debate in the House. This year there has been a substantial increase in farm incomes due to increased commodity prices and reduced input costs. Talking about crisis in that context is not a fair reflection of the experience of the agribusiness sector this year.

See this speech in context