Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief because Senator Burke has said a lot of what I was going to say and there is no point in repetition. For the benefit of my colleague, I never read any statement I make in the House. It is a gripe I have. If a Member is reading a speech, who knows who wrote it? I try to keep on top of my brief, come into the House and speak. I will do that now.

I compliment the Minister on being in the House this evening. Since our respective appointments to our positions, this is the issue on which we have had most contact. I have had contact with the Minister and his officials. I feel for the people in the Gallery. I have tried to represent them in consultations with the Minister as best I could. The Minister has been a willing and able partner in those negotiations. I fully get what he has been saying. He cannot negotiate a compensation package on the floor of the Chamber. That will be done through the regulations. I, for one, have no reason to doubt the Minister's bona fides. He has shared the draft regulations. He will meet the farmers before the regulations are finalised. He has also given a verbal commitment to do something about the workers' compensation. I have no reason to doubt him. However, despite the fact that the legislation will have passed when we leave this evening, I will not be going away. I will still work for those farmers, workers and families to ensure the Minister delivers the best deal possible for them. I thank him again for his co-operation during every stage of this matter.