Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a farmer, I am delighted, like previous speakers, to have an opportunity to speak on this important motion. I welcome Fianna Fáil's renewed interest in rural Ireland and particularly in agriculture. The same party spent the last ten or 15 years developing bricks and mortar at the expense of farmers in rural Ireland. It is ironic that this motion is being discussed on a day when 1,300 new jobs are being created in the Irish food sector. Deputy McNamara mentioned the former Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan. It is important to remember that she was instrumental in ensuring this country's sugar beet industry never returned. I come from Carlow, which was the landmark town for this country's sugar industry.

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