Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I appeal to Senator Quinn not put this motion to a vote as I would rather not have a vote on this issue. I do not know if the procedure is available for us to have a sos to see if we could change some of the wording in the motion and amalgamate it with some of the wording in ours to try to get agreement on that or whether the motion can be withdrawn on the assurance I have given during the debate that I will take on board the issues the Senator has raised, but that is an issue for the House. As the motion stands, I cannot support the current wording of it because I know I cannot deliver on it and I do not want to mislead people. I can deliver much of it but not all of it, particularly on the labelling side. Any motion we agree on this should recognise the good work being done around beef and lamb quality assurance schemes and the school education programmes that are working. There is a generational mind set change on these issues, particularly around climate concerns. Any motion should be broad enough to recognise the good work done by previous Governments and being continued by this Government and I would be happy to accept it should also include a statement that there is much more to do particularly around the waste issue that has been raised by the promoters of this motion.