John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to again come to the House? In particular, I am thinking in terms of the superlevies. We are reviewing these at a time when there is a food shortage and when Europe has never filled its quota for milk. If ever there was proof positive that Europe recognises the nation state, it is this case because it certainly recognises the nation state when it comes to superlevies and tax.

I often wonder at the perceived threat of Europe becoming a super-state. It certainly does not apply when it comes to tax and individual states paying their levies. This is happening at a time when there is a food shortage and when we are trying to increase production. It should be looked at in the European context because this is where Europe claims a competence in agriculture to see if we could have a European view so that farmers are not penalised for producing food that is badly needed.