Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I welcome the new Minister for Agriculture and Food to the House. I spent the last week in Carlow at the ploughing championships and she was mobbed by people in the Department's stand. Her appointment received a mixed reaction from people in the Fine Gael tent. The fact that she is from Donegal was of concern to people from the south east. However, I am sure she will rise to the occasion and her able officials will help her in every way. I appreciate a different type of farming is carried on in the north west from that in the south east or south.