Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I support the call by Senator White for a debate on ageism. We should broaden to cover services for the elderly. We have had productive and substantive debates here on child care, but we should also examine the other end of the spectrum. There are many issues concerning nursing homes and other services for the elderly, including social welfare entitlements. The people who built up this State surely deserve to have their problems examined in depth by us to see what further improvements we can bring about in the services provided for them.

I also support Senator Browne's call for a debate on the nitrates directive. More than most Members of the House, the Acting Leader would be keenly aware of the fact that if implemented as proposed, the regulations will shut down certain farms throughout the country. The directive will make agriculture unsustainable for a number of farmers. Therefore, we need to urgently review the guidelines agreed by the Government, which appear to have been based on a foundation of shifting sands.

This matter will be of the gravest concern to all farmers over the next 12 months. A signal is needed from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Agriculture and Food that they are willing to review the limits of the directive. Otherwise, we will have put in place a regime that will cost rural jobs and the livelihoods of farming families. The matter warrants the most urgent and detailed debate in this House.