Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is some significant good news, and we should welcome it. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, has triumphed again with regard to EU fisheries policy. We all welcome the banning of the discards policy. It never made sense when so many people are hungry in the world. The new policy is to minimise the catching of juvenile fish. I am not aware of all the detail, but I welcome that decision at European level, following the Minister's share in detailed negotiations.

I also welcome yesterday's announcement by the Minister for Finance of the removal of the bank guarantee. Of course, depositors will be protected in the ordinary way. This is another step back to normality and to getting the banks profitable again so that they will make more of their capital available to small businesses and to deserving people throughout the economy.

The availability of credit is to be welcomed.

Once that is opened to SMEs and others, we will greatly welcome it. However, this will allow banks to stand on their own two feet again and break the link between them and the sovereign, which is important.

I join colleagues in appealing to the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, in view of the weather we have had, to extend the season for burning scrub on commonages and high ground and bring into line with policy in Northern Ireland.