Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I, too, congratulate the President-elect, former Deputy Catherine Connolly. It is a great achievement for her. She is a lady I have got to know around the Houses. I usually meet her early in the morning, particularly while she was Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I have no doubt she will bring her enormous energy and vision to Áras an Uachtaráin and we wish her well.

It is with deep sadness but a celebration of life that I acknowledge what Sr. Stan has achieved in this country. I got to know her well, particularly when I was elected here first. I was on the justice committee and we did a huge amount of work in the area of migration. It was a whole different conversation and scenario back then. Sr. Stan in her role as the founder of the Immigrant Council of Ireland was a wonderful person to engage with. She was practical but embedded in the community and in humanity. Modern Ireland could learn an awful lot from her. I hope her soul rests in peace.

Like colleagues, I noted with pride the huge turnout in Cork yesterday by farmers. I hope we will not see a collision course between the Irish Government and the European Commission on this issue. I hope that pragmatism will prevail and the solution that is really the only solution comes to the fore and is adopted. I listened with great interest to the Minister, Deputy Heydon, in his media interviews today and I very much agree with him and his approach in terms of the various asides he is addressing in order that Ireland is not just seen to meet its obligations, but actually does. However, this derogation is something that is required if farming in this country is to have a future and if the next generation is to embrace the land, that life and that community. Within our communities, the farming community is really the bedrock. If that is to develop, the derogation is critical. I wish the Minister well in his deliberations and engagement, particularly with the Commissioner this week. It is important that a clear and strong message go from this House supporting the Minister and his officials in the extremely sensitive and important few weeks ahead with what they are trying to achieve. I congratulate the IFA and all of the 2,000 farmers who turned out because they are symbolic of the entire farming community. There are tens of thousands of people working in farming in this country who would love to have been there but for practical reasons were not able to. There was not even standing room in Cork yesterday. Will the Leader convey a strong message to the Minister that we have his back and we wish him well in the short time ahead with the work he is doing for Irish farmers?