Pat Moylan (Fianna Fail)

I welcome Mr. McCartin, whose constituency borders the Leas-Chathaoirleach's area of the Shannon and midlands. I know from my dealings with many people down through the years of Mr. McCartin's term as an MEP that when he spoke on agricultural matters, people listened and took great heed of what he had to say because he always dealt with what was relevant to the people who mattered on the ground.

I was heartened to hear Mr. McCartin's comments on rural development. As a man of great experience, he put down a marker in this area. We have concentrated greatly on urban development in Ireland, but Mr. McCartin noted an opportunity for agriculture and the farming community, for farmers to continue on the land long after our time as public representatives.

I support the comments of Senator Jim Higgins on the BMW region and Objective One status. Qualification was purely as a result of disadvantage in the area, of which my constituency of Laoighis-Offaly is part. It is crucial that the area retains Objective One status. Mr. McCartin may have some influence in that regard. There is one slight problem in that part of the area is not regarded as fully disadvantaged. There is an anomaly there and farmers are losing out. I will comment later on the wildlife directive.