Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

When one looks at where breweries are situated around the country, in many cases they are in small rural villages or townlands. It involves people who believe in something and who probably had very little money. In fairness, in some cases, the local enterprise offices help them, but in other cases, these people followed their passion, kept their belief, saw their goal and went for it. We should pursue any way we can to help them to prosper and to encourage entrepreneurship around this country every day of the week. As was rightly pointed out yesterday evening, we should talk to the companies. I spoke to a Galway oyster company that faces problem getting certification from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to export its goods. That is the problem in this country. Someone like Larry Goodman will get it that day because they will get a vet in their place but a small operator must drive to Dublin and it could take eight or nine days. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine should address that. We must look at the type of barley we grow and the mixes. We could come up with something great that everyone around the world and tourists would like. That is what creates an economy, pays taxes and keeps the country going.

In respect of the comments about the Ceann Comhairle ruling matters in or out of order, he is as fair a Ceann Comhairle as we can get. It is not great to say that he is ruling things in or out of order. I do not know really what was being said. I cannot understand it but I think it should be clarified because, in fairness, it is the team behind the Ceann Comhairle that makes the decision. The Ceann Comhairle will not see every last sentence. He helps all of us as best he can in terms of getting speaking time.

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