John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

On a more serious note, I agree with colleagues who have raised the sugar beet issue, particularly with the announcement last week by Greencore that the last remaining plant in Mallow, County Cork, is to be closed. Previous speakers, and Senator Callanan in particular, spoke at length on the issue. I agree with many of the sentiments he expressed. This matter poses a serious threat to the future of the tillage sector in Irish agriculture.

Beet was a very important crop in the overall agricultural scheme, and we should invite the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Coughlan, to this House to explain her Department's proposals, if any, to replace this crop. Other relevant Government agencies should be invited in to explain what is proposed for the towns of Mallow and Carlow, where significant job losses have come as a result of sugar plants closing down in the past couple of years.

I join with colleagues who have requested the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, to come to the House to discuss decentralisation. He was here two weeks ago when we had a debate on the issue, and I raised the matter of FÁS and the problems connected with its move to Birr. The Minister of State answered virtually every question except that one. Over the past couple of days we have seen that significant problems exist in that area. It would be useful if the Minister of State again came to the House.

Decentralisation has changed from its initial plan to being a forced plan, as in the case of FÁS. It has become a system of relocation, where people who are already decentralised and located in Government offices around the country are being moved around, rather than the initial idea of the decentralisation of civil and public servants from Dublin to the regions.

I join with Senator Hanafin, who raised the issue of moneys which will come into the economy as a result of the maturing of the SSIAs. It would be useful to have a discussion on that issue in the House over the course of the next few weeks.