Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Kelly, Ellis, Regan, Carty, Norris, Hanafin, Coghlan, Leyden, Walsh, Healy Eames and Callely all expressed serious concern over the difficulties being experienced in the agriculture sector, especially in respect of the full recall of all pork products. As Senator Carty, the Government spokesperson on agriculture, pointed out, 85% of all our produce is exported. The matter is very serious and I thank the leaders for their co-operation in allowing it to be debated tomorrow afternoon. I certainly look forward to Senators' contributions thereon. If time is needed next week, I will propose that it be allocated. The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Deputy Sargent, will be in the House tomorrow to update us on the difficulties being experienced.

I congratulate everyone concerned with this unfortunate problem, from the Taoiseach to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, and his Ministers of State, Deputy Mary Wallace and Deputy Sargent. They, along with their officials, have worked night and day since the matter was brought to their attention. Everyone in the farming organisations has been acting in a really responsible way in the national interest. I thank all the leaders in the House for their understanding and support regarding this difficulty, especially because Christmas is approaching.

We hope the people will rally to the call to support quality Irish produce once it is cleared, which I hope will be in the next 48 hours. We want to play our part to ensure the green Ireland of which we are so proud and all the 30 countries affected will be fully supported. Reassurance to the consumer worldwide is of the utmost importance. I fully support the great and arduous work the organic pork industry has been doing. It has been making its products readily available to all those outlets that have had no product to sell over the past 48 hours. I look forward to the debate tomorrow and to assisting, in any way I can, with the restoration of consumer confidence in the industry. I wish all those who have lost their jobs a speedy return to work. I will certainly do anything I can to facilitate Members in airing their views on this matter in the House over the coming week.

Senators Fitzgerald, Regan, Boyle, Callely and Mullen all expressed their horror at the untimely death of Mr. Aidan O'Kane. I express my condolences to his family. Mr. O'Kane was trying to protect his property and everything that is good in his community. In the main, young people who engage in anti-social behaviour probably want a bit of excitement but the unfortunate consequence is that properties are being damaged and people are being subject to considerable mental strain and stress. This was especially the case in respect of the late Mr. O'Kane, who had only recently been bereaved by the loss of his wife. His death is an occurrence one believes would happen somewhere else, but not in Ireland.

We all have a duty to support the Minister regarding what he and the Garda Síochána, including the Commissioner, are trying to do to address the problem of young people being in the possession of guns. It is completely unacceptable that they would be and whatever needs to be done to strengthen the law in this regard certainly should be supported.

Senators O'Toole, Healy Eames and Mullen called for a debate on education. I have no difficulty with this and will endeavour to allow it. However, there is a considerable amount of legislation to deal with, as we can seen from the Order Paper for this week. As a consequence of the debacle in the agriculture sector, particularly the pork industry, the Gas (Amendment) Bill had to be deferred to allow time to debate it. Next week will be the same in that there will be a considerable amount of legislation to be debated. If time is available between considering the various Bills, I will endeavour to allow for the debate the Senators called for.

The great number of people who turned out in Dublin on Saturday to make their case are to be commended. The positive aspect of this is that it was the best trading day this year in the city of Dublin. The teachers have certainly made their contribution——