John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

I join in the request to the Leader for a debate at the earliest possible opportunity on the outcome of the CAP reform talks which took place this week. In doing so, we should congratulate the Minister for Agriculture and Food on ensuring the future of the Common Agricultural Policy is secure, in particular, on securing an increase in the amount of butter available to intervention, protecting the milk quota, securing the slaughter premium for Ireland and maintaining cereal prices. He has achieved a lot, contrary to what has been said by the president of the Irish Farmers Association. It is also rather fascile of the president to say the Minister was worn down by having to stay up all night. It has been a feature of the talks since the late Mr. Gibbons and Mr. Clinton were Ministers for Agriculture and Food to have them go on into the early hours of the morning and well into the following day. The Minister has shown that he is capable of staying, not just for one day but for several days, to conclude a successful deal, for which he is to be commended. He said some detail needed to be worked out in relation to the technical aspects. Perhaps we should have the debate next week rather than tomorrow. However, we should have it before we rise, if possible.