Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

Due to the nitrates directive, many pig and poultry producers will follow the fate of sugar beet producers. They require large investments in their businesses to implement the directive's conditions. During that debate the Minister went to ground, forgetting about her flock, the farming community. She left it in the hands of the abrasive Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche. Not only did he ride roughshod over the pig and poultry producers, he also succeeded in humiliating Teagasc scientists and management. He refused to accept their advice and questioned their scientific evidence. Teagasc is now the cornerstone of the research and development plans of the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Yet in the past several years the Government has slashed its funding, resulting in the closure of research stations and offices.

Senator Callanan's motion is a negative one. At a time when we all should be working together in the interests of farmers, it is regrettable that he comes along crawthumping and backslapping. The action plan is geared for the next election but there is no funding for it.