Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)

I would like the Leader to ask the new Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to have a debate on agriculture and the WTO. I have been involved in a number of public meetings on the Lisbon treaty in my constituency. While five weeks remain before the referendum on the treaty will be held, there is grave concern among the wider agricultural and rural communities regarding the talks with Commissioner Mandelson. Even though I have raised the issue of a debate on fishing, an area close to my heart and one that urgently requires debate, given the time span afforded before the referendum will be held, will the Leader give priority to arranging for a debate to be held on agriculture? The majority of Members of this House support a "Yes" vote, but if the farming community and people of rural Ireland do not support the "Yes" campaign in the Lisbon treaty referendum, the referendum will be lost. There is no equivocation about that. Now is the time to make such a call. I was disappointed with the turnout of some rural communities in the well-organised meetings I attended. I do not want to put the fishing issue on the backburner but what is involved in the agriculture talks is much more acute at this stage.

I congratulate the new Taoiseach. He will bring a new vision to Ireland in his new role. I especially congratulate the Minister, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, a former council colleague and a former Member of this House, on his elevation to ministerial office. He lost his Dáil seat in 1989, following which he served in this House with many of us from 1989 to 1993, and then won back his Dáil seat. This is a great achievement for him. I also congratulate the Minister, Deputy Smith, who has been given the difficult portfolio of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I had many dealings with him when he was personal secretary to a former Tánaiste, the late John Wilson, and found him to be very capable. I also congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Pat Carey, and the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews. It is a great occasion for them. The new Cabinet faces many challenges but I have no doubt that with the calibre of its members and the changes that have been made, it will bring a new vision to tackling the challenges facing our country.