John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I join the general congratulations to the Minister on her appointment and I belatedly formally congratulate her. I wish her well in her onerous job. I had the opportunity to pay tribute here to her predecessor, Deputy Walsh, who guided Irish agriculture through some very difficult times. Apart from his work in Brussels, he deserves enormous credit for what he did to address the issues of foot and mouth disease and BSE. I do not wish that she should stay as long in the job as he did; I hope other alternatives beckon.