Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for attending and I congratulate him on his appointment. I am sure he is delighted.

The Minister will be more concerned than most about the reputation of Irish beef, lamb and bacon, and he will want to protect it more than anybody. Much to the credit of the political system in Ireland, countless Ministers have worked precisely to do that. Much to the credit of the Minister's Department, officials have done a considerable amount of work over the years on educating farmers and ensuring the integrity of the Irish meat supply system nationally and internationally. We have much to applaud ourselves for as a consequence. We have responded to crises such as BSE and foot and mouth disease, and we have done so in jig time and with exemplary outcomes. I do not wish to do anything today that would affect the integrity of meat supply from farm to plate, both nationally and internationally, or bring the system into disrepute. Recently during the Seanad election campaign, I had the pleasure of visiting the mart in Kenmare, where I met Councillor Dan McCarthy, the mart manager.