David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was interested to see that the Government stuck the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, into the House to take this debate. The first three speakers were farmers. More power to them. My grandfather was a farmer. It seems quite clear that the Government's objective is to protect the farmers' interests, and there is no sense of urgency whatsoever. I found the Minister's speech to be a collection of unconvincing blather. He says he is not complacent. My God, there is not the slightest suggestion of any degree of urgency in this. We are told that everything is all right and there is nothing to look at here, or there is "no problem", to quote the former Minister for Finance, the late Deputy Brian Lenihan. It is quite extraordinary. It is as if the Minister, in a situation of war with bombs falling, missiles landing and poison gas everywhere, is putting his nose outside the House wondering whether to take an umbrella. This is a war, and it is an extraordinary-----