Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will not have this every week. Last week the Ceann Comhairle did the same. I watched and read back on what six Deputies had done and the Ceann Comhairle intervened with regard to my time and he has done the same this week. I asked that the clock reflects this and that it does not count. I will speak for less then two minutes now and allow the Minister time to respond and to allow Deputy Stanley to have two minutes if that is in order.

As it happens, I will not need all of my time because I welcome the Minister's decision regarding wood pigeon shooting. It was very unfortunate, and I hope the Minister agrees, that the decision in the first place was made without consultation. My question and request of the Minister is if she will ensure that decisions such as this in future do not happen before consultation takes place with the stakeholders. In this instance, it was tillage farmers and game clubs that were affected. I would also like the Minister to give an opinion on whether, considering these issues come up time and again, and as we speak about Government negotiations, that the issues in this regard would be better served by a different Department.

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