Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I appreciate the Acting Chairman's efforts to allow me make my contribution. I welcome the Minister to the House for this debate. I acknowledge the difficult situation he had to encounter during the past fortnight in negotiating what has transpired. Most understand decoupling means separating land from production. I see this as separating the farmer from the land from hereon. Despite the Minister's best efforts, Commissioner Fischler has clearly indicated he wants to revolutionise the agriculture industry in Europe. In so doing he wants to displace as many farmers as possible from the land. He sees them as an inconvenience.