Peter Callanan (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Bradford for agreeing to share time. I do not want to add much. Yesterday I asked for a postponement of this debate. I am glad that everyone agreed, since we must have a substantial debate in the fall of this year when the Houses return. I do not think there will have been a decision. We are aware of where the Government and the Minister stand, and we support that stance. In particular, I support what Senator Bradford has said, so there is no point in my expanding on it.

I am sad as a beet grower — I acknowledge my personal involvement — to see the farmers so divided. It is a great pity that the Irish nation is not united behind the effort for which the Senator has called and for which we know the Minister and the Government are working. We are not only talking about reform of the sugar industry. If we take into account Mr. Blair's campaign regarding the Common Agricultural Policy, we realise that we do not know the implications, if any, regarding sugar reform.

I asked for a postponement yesterday until October, and I hope the Minister will facilitate a debate at that stage. We will have more information, and the Minister will have come through the Council of Ministers. One hopes she will have met the farmers and hammered a little sense into them, as well as Greencore. We will be able to have a more informed and better debate. I ask the Minister to put that in her diary.

I thank Senator Bradford and wish the Minister well, since she is in an impossible position, perhaps the toughest that she will ever be in as Minister. I repeat that and call publicly for beet growers to unite.