Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader arrange for the Minister for Agriculture and Food to come to the House when negotiations are completed in Luxembourg on CAP reform? Commissioner Fischler has put forward proposals for regional solutions and greater flexibility at national level. He has nothing more than the renationalisation of the CAP in mind. The consequences for Irish agriculture and farming communities is that the existing decline will accelerate and the current supports of €460 million will be removed by 2006. The Seanad should have an urgent debate on this issue to ensure the Minister is aware of our support and, in the absence of a national plan for agriculture, to suggest to the Minister the need for a strategy to retain as many family farms as possible. It is important that the Leader invite the Minister to the House to debate this issue and that the Minister prevent the renationalisation of the CAP in Europe.