Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I support the call from Senator Mullen and others for a full debate on the REP scheme before the House adjourns. While I acknowledge there was a brief Adjournment debate on the matter last night, a substantial debate is needed on a matter of such fundamental importance to tens of thousands of farming families nationwide. I will give the Leader a political health warning on the forthcoming Lisbon treaty referendum. Members of Fine Gael will be the strongest advocates of a "Yes" vote in the Lisbon treaty rerun. In the previous referendum, all sorts of issues arose that caused people to vote on the wrong question rather than on the referendum. I am gravely concerned that unless significant progress is made in resolving this dispute, the decision of the Government will result in tens of thousands of people from rural Ireland opposing the Lisbon treaty for the wrong reasons.