Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last week the Leader responded to my request to arrange a debate on public sector reform and we had a very good debate on the matter. Yesterday, I discovered a document entitled Promises, Commitments, and Delivery: Mid-Term Review of the Programme for Government, prepared by the Disability Federation of Ireland. I am sure Senator Cullinane's request could be included in the following debate. I ask the Deputy Leader to arrange a debate to take place in the near future on the document prepared by the Disability Federation of Ireland. The document makes a lot of sense and acts as a reminder of the commitments the Government made. It is also a reminder of whether we, or the Government, are keeping up with the commitments. A debate would give us an opportunity to talk about disability and the disability promises that were made in so many other ways.

There is one other important topic. Senator O'Neill referred to the beef trade and I wish to raise the issue of milk quality. There is a concern among veterinarians in Ireland that what has happened in recent years has left a danger that our quality of milk will be less than it has been and less than what exists in other countries. Until the year 2002, antibiotics were available across the counter. Legislation was introduced in 2003 which meant that antibiotics for animals were no longer available across the counter unless a veterinarian had been on the premises or farm once during the previous 12 months. There is a concern that 12 months is far too long because in Denmark the period is only 30 days and the reason for a shorter period is due to scheduling regarding the animal remedies regulation. The matter is worthy of consideration. I ask the Deputy Leader to bring the matter to the attention of the relevant Minister. I assume that would be the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Perhaps the Minister for Health would consider the matter as well because we are talking about a concern that the quality of milk will deteriorate in the years ahead. Milk is an important export for Ireland and nothing should prevent us from being at the top of the world league table for milk quality.