Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

I ask the Leader to invite the missing Minister for Agriculture and Food to the House for a debate on farming matters, especially the sugar industry and compensation. We are entering the harvest season, but beet farmers have no crop nor do they have compensation. The Minister must come to the House to address the issue if we are avoid a flight from the land and the addition of sugar beet farmers and producers to the ranks of the homeless. It is a serious issue. As we have not had a debate on agricultural issues for quite a while, I ask the Leader to organise one.