Susan O'Keeffe (Labour)

I thank the Minister for agreeing to be the canary in the mine in regard to all of this. We had hoped for Minister's questions to be a routine part of our work. I refer to the impasse in regard to Leader funding for small food projects such as those we saw in their magnificence last night in the Shelbourne Hotel and previously at a Tesco function. I know there is an impasse and that it is difficult but I have been asked about it over and again by various companies, specifically in regard to the so-called food tent at the ploughing championships which appears to have fallen victim also. The Minister expressed enormous support for the food industry, which is very welcome, but the specialist food industry must also have support. In a sense, this seems to have arisen almost by accident.

I refer to the environmental impact assessment. I received the Minister's briefing note this morning, specifically in regard to the reduction of drainage from 20 hectares to 0.1 hectares. There is much concern among farmers in that regard.