Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These petty arguments do not enable us to make progress regarding the challenge we face. Let us be truthful about what is happening here today. This is an opportunity to vent the legitimate concerns of the beef industry. A vote today will achieve nothing because there is no agreement as we speak. We have an opportunity use the intervening time to influence the ultimate shape of this deal. That is a serious job of work that needs to be done and we do not need to be distracted by posturing for the purposes of political points scoring.

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