John Carty (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Corrigan for giving me two minutes of her time and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Finneran. I am pleased to support the motion of confidence in the Taoiseach and his Government. The Taoiseach, Deputy Brian Cowen, is a person of the highest integrity who has given strong leadership to our country at this time. When he was Minister for Finance I worked closely with him and through his support Ireland West Airport Knock got €27.5 million for infrastructure that was essential for its development. That was a huge boost for development in the west.

Agriculture gained significantly when the Taoiseach was Minister for Finance and Deputy Mary Coughlan was Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Since he became Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen has given the current Minister, Deputy Brendan Smith, every support in ensuring Irish farming will go forward.

The Government has invested €1.1 billion from the Exchequer through farm waste management schemes which ensured we did not suffer fines or cutbacks to European Union funding for rural development and the single payment schemes, which are worth €1.6 billion to the farming community in Ireland. Every week we hear it said that it is through the different organs of farming that we will bring our country to the fore again with exports, food processing and so on. That money is vital in that regard. The Taoiseach, Deputy Cowen, has given the farming community in Ireland, through his Ministers, the highest support that possibly can be given.