Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)

On Ireland's relationship with the European Union, does the Leader feel that the Minister for Agriculture and Food should come in on a separate issue, namely, the nitrates directive? The Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party last night debated this robustly and at length. While it is an environmental issue, it has afforded an opportunity to many of us on this side of the House to put forward a view that we now face the demise of yet another agricultural industry.

Since I have been a Member of this House I have met many organisations and individuals from rural areas and this most recent controversy is unlike any I have experienced before. Pig and poultry producers face ruin and their families face unemployment and destitution as a result of an EU directive that does not take account of the unique nature of Irish grassland.

In that context, while I accept that the directive will soon be implemented, and there is nothing much we can do about it, I compliment the Minister for Agriculture and Food on the proposal she put to the party meeting yesterday, which will address as far as possible the issues surrounding the directive in terms of anti-pollution measures.