Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)

I thank Senator O'Toole for sharing his time with me. In the limited time available I wish to ask the Minister of State one or two questions. This is a fascinating debate but we more we discuss it the bigger the issue seems to be. We are now talking about planning issues, the misuse of substances legislation, the Food Safety Authority, the HSE and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform - the list goes on. The more we speak about bringing all these agencies together, the bigger the issues seems to become.

Senator O'Toole referred to the issues of supply and demand. I have a few questions for the Minister of State about the issue of supply. I happen to be involved in the restaurant business, but if I were to pick leaves and berries in the fields to sell them, I would receive a visit from officials of the Department of Health and Children who would want to know from where I got these items and where they had been washed. Some restaurants cannot even sell potatoes, rather they must use pre-packed ones. Potatoes cannot be washed on some premises because they may not have enough sinks. If, however, we were able to obtain those substances, would we be able to sell them? It strikes me that I would have to answer to the health authorities on where they had been obtained, who the distributor was and what they would do.