Francis O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Aylward. I denounce the Fischler proposals and commend the Minister, Deputy Joe Walsh, for the courageous stance he took last week at the meeting of farm Ministers. He joined the grouping known as The Friends of Farming in the Council to formally reject the Commissioner's package. The group, led by France, has the backing of at least five other states, including Ireland, Spain and Portugal.