Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

We know that the Nice Treaty referendum failed the first time and if the European Union is to make silly rules about travelling such as Senator Norris outlines, people will vote against the European Union in any other referendum. This is true in particular of farmers who have received their manuals on the nitrates directive. The manual is apparently very detailed and complex and is not user-friendly. This is exactly what gives the European Union a bad name. We should invite the Minister for Agriculture and Food to the House to tell Members whether she is aware of the complexity of the task facing farmers in the coming months and years. It is turning people off and they do not need it. It is time we got real and became more user-friendly.

I repeat my earlier call for the reduction of VAT on fuel bills. This is a major issue. Here the VAT is 13.5%, whereas in the North and Britain it is 5%. This is an area in which we can make an impact on people's lives. The Government took in €223 million in VAT on fuel bills last year. The figure in recent years is almost double what it was previously. It would be possible to reduce the VAT without affecting the budget. It is in effect a stealth tax and should be reconsidered.