Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I ask the Leader to draw to the attention of the Minister for Agriculture and Food the suggestion from Europe yesterday that in any future case of foot and mouth disease vaccinations should be introduced. I am a great believer, as many of us are, of subsidiarity which means decisions are reached much closer to where citizens live. More and more decisions are being made at European level and taken away from individual nations. The case made about vaccination is understandable compared to the burning of carcasses in Britain last year, but dangers are posed to the agricultural industry, the tourism industry and so on as a result of decisions being made in Europe rather than in this country. I urge the Department of Agriculture and Food to debate this issue in the immediate future so that Europe does not foist something on us which is not in our interest.