Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail)

I know for a fact there are aspects of regulations that other countries do not observe. In my area, many housewives who had no jobs outside the home were able to bake apple tarts, scones and cakes. One was delighted to get them and one would fight on one's back to get them. However, EU regulations were imposed on us stipulating, inter alia, that one must have steelware in the kitchen. One cannot sell a few eggs at present unless the hens are registered. That is how serious the matter is.

I have in-laws from the farming community whom I used to visit over the years. I used to look at the Rhode Island Reds and I knew there would be fresh eggs in the barn. One must now register hens. While these are only isolated examples, there is too much unnecessary bureaucracy that has absolutely nothing to do with hygiene or health. I remember an episode of "Glenroe" in which Dinny bought eggs in a shop, rubbed them in the dirt in the shed and brought them back and sold them as free-range eggs. It shows one how exaggerated circumstances have become.