Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

I listened with interest to a number of the speakers, including my good friend and colleague, Senator Denis O'Donovan, on over regulation and I must concur with what has been said. I visit the village of Kilcrohane where Senator O'Donovan is from. I have very good friends in the village who run an Irish farmhouse bed and breakfast. The Senator mentioned the regulation of eggs. My friends have hens and they are not allowed serve the eggs from their farm to their customers. Poultry and other products, including their own home-grown potatoes, all must comply with regulations. The eggs must be stamped, etc. It is crazy. One goes into this small village to a beautiful farmhouse bed and breakfast which is not able to serve certain produce because of regulation, and we sell this as an Irish farmhouse experience. I look forward with interest to see what we in the Seanad can do to make changes in that area.

I have listened to many people speak about the recent ESRI report. People seem to be cherry-picking certain aspects of the report. I look forward to a good broad debate on the report and the direction the country is taking.