John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I again ask the Leader to arrange for a debate on genetic modification. It appears that the green debate is in many ways being taken over by people who sometimes go against their own aims. The reality is that, through genetic modification, the use of nitrates for plants could be greatly reduced. Many who support the green agenda are against genetic modification. However, there would be less nitrate toxic waste in our oceans, rivers and lakes if plants were genetically modified to use less nitrates. In other words, it is of huge benefit to the green agenda to consider genetic modification.

Often in this House people use inflammatory language during debates. I ask the Leader to encourage Members to refrain from using words such as "attack" in this House. There is no question of there being an attack on anybody in the context of the budget measures. Great care was taken to ensure that nobody was attacked and that there was a fair and even distribution of the weight. Similarly, people often make statements to the effect that they hope there will be no riots on the streets and so on. There is absolutely no real question of this happening. From where is this coming?