Paddy Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate Commissioner Phil Hogan on his nomination for reappointment to the European Commission. No doubt we will see him get a big portfolio in the coming reshuffle of Commissioners. We wish him well in that. The better the portfolio, the better for Ireland. Commissioner Hogan will have the interests of Ireland at heart.

I wish to be associated with the comments that have been made in respect of the Mercosur deal. I call for a debate on the issue either today or tomorrow. If we cannot have it on either day , I hope it can proceed when the House returns in September. Many issues arise from the deal. One is the original 275,000 tonnes of beef already coming into Europe. How much of that is coming to Ireland? Reference was made to the poultry industry. As previous speakers indicated, the deal will have devastating effects on our beef and poultry sectors and on the pig industry as well. It is important that we have a debate on the issue in early September at the latest. There are many issues involved and many aspects to the Mercosur deal. There are pros and cons. I hope that we will have an early debate on the matter.

I welcome the developments at Dublin Port and the proposed expansion and extension thereof. I have raised this issue on several occasions. Dublin Port is highly important to Ireland. The port does not operate on a 24-hour basis and there are difficulties with that. Maybe the expansion envisaged will help that. A €1 billion plan is envisaged for the port and a planning application has been lodged with An Bord Pleanála. I hope these plans will come to fruition in the not-too-distant future and that Dublin Port goes ahead with them. It is vital that Dublin Port works efficiently and effectively. Dublin Port has indicated that it will not take any cruise ships this year. Cruise ships are important not only to the city of Dublin but also to the country as a whole. The sector is not putting any pressure on bed nights in Dublin or anything like that because most of the people stay on board. This would be a major loss to the State and the Exchequer. I welcome the plans put forward by Dublin Port. Perhaps the issue could be debated in the Chamber in the not-too-distant future as well.