Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Higgins. On Senator Boylan's point, she was mistaken. The Minister of State in question was not Deputy Peter Burke, but Deputy Heydon. She was also mistaken as regards what he said. The Minister of State said he would discuss the matter with me and bring it back to me, which he did. As I said very clearly during the engagements I had previously in the Seanad, I will be sitting down with the farmers to bring the regulations to a conclusion. Farmers have had a copy of the regulations, which are in draft form and not yet finalised. It is now important that we bring those regulations to a conclusion. It is my responsibility to engage with farmers on that. The Minister of State followed through on what he committed to.

As I said very clearly in the Chamber previously, I did not think it was appropriate that the Seanad would be in the middle of negotiations. No doubt there is an onerous responsibility, as there is on all of us, but it ultimately rests with me as the Minister to bring those negotiations to a conclusion. I will very promptly engage with farmers now that the legislative basis for me to do so has been provided by both Houses of the Oireachtas. I understand the points that Senator Higgins has made but the Bill provides the capacity to address those issues following on from both the strategic environmental assessment and an appropriate assessment, and then that to be accommodated in the regulation. I take on board the points that she has made and raised as part of her amendment.