John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to contact the Minister for Health and Children on the issue of stem cell research. I note that the first adult stem cell clinic in Europe has opened in Germany. To date the only significant progress in this area of research has come from adult stem cells. The debate on the need for embryonic stem cells is well past as adult stem cells have proven to have the pluripotent nature required. Previously, requests were made in the House that the Minister make Ireland a centre for biotechnology and adult stem cell research and development. They were not taken up at the time. I fear Ireland might begin to lag behind in this area and we now have a golden opportunity to pursue it.

Will the Leader raise with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the possibility of the prices being paid by supermarkets to the farming community being put under the remit of an ombudsman, as occurs in the UK? In Ireland at present the price paid to farmers producing potatoes is one fifth of the shelf price of potatoes. What added value is there in putting potatoes into a plastic bag and selling them? Someone is running the market and ensuring it is paying the retailer and not the producer. That is not right when so many farmers in the potato industry are going, and have gone, out of business.