Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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I will not over-indulge on time. While the joint committee on agriculture was sitting in private session, I raised an issue that I now wish to put on the public record. In the past two weeks, a fisherman landed monkfish on the docks and gave it away for free. That person now faces prosecution. Will the Leader ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter of discards? The EU's policy on discards is immoral.

I welcome the farmers from Kilkenny and all of the IFA members who are outside Leinster House. The Minister will negotiate CAP, a part of which is the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP. Will he ensure that the issue of discards is addressed? Fishing is subject to quotas, but so is milk. If I overproduce milk, it still goes into the food chain and I am not asked to dump 100 litres every day. If I have a wheat quota of three tonnes per acre and I produce four tonnes, what would I do with the extra tonne? That fish are being thrown back is immoral. We have the best fed seagulls in the world.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Did the Government not promise to reverse the criminal sanctions?

Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)
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I am not asking about those. I am asking the EU to reconsider the matter. There are other options for the fish. This summer's weather was the worst for agriculture and the feedstuff produced is of poor quality. We will need to supplement that feed with more proteins, the cost of which, particularly soya, has doubled in the past three years.

We cannot bring excess fish into the food chain because of quotas and the market would be distorted. What would be wrong with setting up a processing plant either in the EU or here in Ireland to deal with discarded fish by putting it into animal feed? One of the best sources of protein is fishmeal so why should we not look at that as a way of using discards? It is totally immoral for fish to be dumped at sea, where it will only feed seagulls. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to make a statement on the matter.

Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail)
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I support my colleague, Senator O'Neill, as he and I serve on the joint committee. At the meeting earlier today, Senator O'Neill raised this issue, which was unanimously agreed on by all members present from all parties and none. We discussed exactly what Senator O'Neill has outlined regarding the attitude towards discards. The issue has arisen in this House in the past few years. The Commissioner responsible for fisheries is already on record as saying she is against discards but there has been no further clarification or extension of those remarks on how she will deal with the issue. Running in parallel with the Common Agricultural Policy is a review of the Common Fisheries Policy, which is sometimes forgotten about. I share Senator O'Neill's concern, which mirrors the sentiment of the House and the general public, as a result of what we saw on our television screens last week. Monkfish is very expensive but it was handed out for free, and the individual responsible for that action will be subject to legal sanctions. Some comment should be made but there has been a deafening silence on the matter. I have heard no official reaction or response to what happened on Kilmore Quay last week other than what was in the media. If the boat owner in question had delayed his landing and left the boat on the quay, ferrying people to the boat to collect the fish, I wonder if that would have constituted landing the fish, as he would have been at sea. The chances are that it would have been a technicality and he would not have landed the fish. That shows the absurdity of this policy. I share the concerns raised in the elegant contribution from Senator O'Neill. I hope this will not be the end of the matter and the Leader will take cognisance of this, with at least some indication that there will be a response to comments.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Minister, Deputy Coveney, is dealing with this very issue.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I have already shown the Senator a yellow card. Senator Gilroy is last but not least.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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I am grateful for the reminder.

John Gilroy (Labour)
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Perhaps I should not be surprised that one of the Senators on the other side of the House has admitted that his party takes his economic policy direction from the front pages of the newspapers. I am speaking in the context of the publication this morning of the IMF report, Coping with High Debt and Sluggish Growth. I suggest it would perhaps be better for everybody in the House, before commenting on such matters, to acquaint themselves with the report. We agree that the effects of austerity are dreadful for an economy and its citizens but austerity is not the policy proposed by certain Members of this and the other House. Despite what commentators are saying, there is a still a ¤15 billion gap in the budget finances and even if there had been no banking, European or monetary crisis, our fiscal crisis would have remained.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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It would not be so bad if we did not pay the unguaranteed bondholders.

John Gilroy (Labour)
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We must recognise the complexity of the issue, which the report does. My colleague seems to support everything that is popular and be against anything that is not.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Typical Labour Party bluster.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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There should be no interruption.

John Gilroy (Labour)
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I share some concerns outlined in the report, although it recognises the complexity of the issue. The Leader might be minded towards inviting the Minister for Finance to the House to have a full and robust debate. Perhaps we could hear what all sides have to say in an intelligent way.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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In welcoming the acting leader of Fianna Fáil, Senator Ó Domhnaill, it seems Donegal is on a roll. With regard to the Irish Farmers Association's day of action, every organisation has a right to advocate for an individual sector, and agriculture is no different.

We have seen a very strong statement by the agrifood sector and rural Ireland outside the doors of Leinster House today that a successful outcome to the Common Agricultural Policy negotiations is vital. The Government is totally focused on ensuring the Common Agricultural Policy reform negotiations receive full priority. Anybody who was in the House last week listening to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, will realise that we have a person who will champion the efforts of Irish agriculture and farm families in the negotiations. I do not believe we could have a better person representing the country and farm families.

I do not intend to accept the proposed amendment to the Order of Business. I understand a similar amendment on the same issue was proposed by Senator Darragh O'Brien to the Order of Business only on Thursday last and it was voted down. I suggest we should not accept the proposed amendment to the Order of Business.

I will not get involved in the Private Members' debate we will have tomorrow. Senator Ó Domhnaill will have ample time during the debate on his party's Private Members' motion to express his concerns about that subject.

Senator Bacik welcomed the reforms to the junior certificate programme. They will be welcomed by many but not by others. I am sure we will have a debate with the Minister in attendance in the House in early course. The Senator also spoke about the improvement of urban centres. I could try to arrange a debate on that issue.

Senator Zappone raised a question on civil rights, especially in regard to eastern European countries, and called for the Minister of State with responsibility for European affairs to come into the House to outline the policies for our Presidency of the EU. I have arranged that and the Minister of State will come to the House in the next few weeks to address the points the Senator raised.

Senators Clune, Noone, Mullins, Paul Coghlan and others welcomed the development announced by the Kerry Group which will lead to the creation of 900 jobs by 2016 and 400 temporary construction jobs. This ¤100 million investment is a reflection of the enormous importance of the agrifood sector to this country and the potential economic benefit it may deliver in terms of exports, job creation and Ireland's global reputation as a centre for innovation. This is a very important development. We won the case and it was not just a simple matter, as Senator Noone mentioned, of putting on the green jersey. We were in strong competition with the cities of London and Amsterdam to secure these much sought after jobs. I am sure it will be a wonderful development. We would all like to congratulate everybody involved, Enterprise Ireland and everybody associated with this new development.

Senator Barrett raised the matter of the heads of a proposed universities (amendment) Bill 2012. Requests have been made for the Minister for Education and Skills to come into the House to deal with a wide range of subjects. I will speak to the Minister and perhaps we could debate the heads of that Bill as a separate item. Members have requested a debate on third level education, the reforms to the junior certificate programme and various other areas of education. I will try to arrange for the Minister to come to the House to deal with all those items and will inquire from him whether he is willing to come here to debate the heads of the proposed legislation.

Senator Hayden has raised the matter of how insolvency legislation applies to SMEs and requested the Minister for Justice and Equality to give his comments on that issue. I can arrange that. I suggest the point should also be raised with the Minister of State with responsibility for small businesses when he will be in the House in matter of minutes speaking on the subject of SMEs.

Senator Ó Clochartaigh's contribution was the usual positive one we hear from Sinn Féin on everything that moves. The Senator will have ample opportunity to discuss the many items he raised in his discourse.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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The Leader does not like being obliged to admit Sinn Féin was right.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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The Senator probably needs to improve his figures a little. I suggest, in respect of the taxing of wealth, that he consider last year's budget in which the following taxes on wealth were increased, namely, capital gains tax, capital acquisitions tax and deposit interest retention tax. Sinn Féin Members could do with brushing up on their maths because last night on television I watched a Member of the other House talk about ¤800 million being brought in on foot of the introduction of a wealth tax. Many holes certainly were shot through that proposal.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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I ask the Department of Finance to cost it.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Senator Byrne seconded the proposed amendment to the Order of Business. I believe I mentioned last week that when the Minister for Finance came into this House to discuss the banking sector, the Senator was one of those Members who suggested he was fooling himself by appearing here to deal with statements on the banking sector and that he should be introducing legislation instead. Consequently, this is a bit rich, coming from the Senator.

Senators Harte, Colm Burke and Mullen raised the issue of private schools. It is another question for the Minister for Education and Skills, who is not scheduled to appear here for a number of months. However, a number of items must be discussed and Members should have an informed debate with the full facts before them, on both sides of the fence, rather than jumping to conclusions on this issue. Members need to have a calm debate on the subject.

Senator Norris raised the issue of the Ombudsman for Children's report, which I note. On my way to Dublin this morning, I heard the ombudsman making some valid points on radio. As for the Senator's points regarding the IMF, irrespective of the bailout, we still have a ¤15 billion deficit, which must be and will be tackled by the Government. This will involve cutbacks in several areas.

David Norris (Independent)
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What about the children's hospital?

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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We must live within our means and the Government will do its best to so do, which is what was lacking in recent years.

David Norris (Independent)
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What about the children's hospital?

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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Senator Colm Burke raised the issue of the use of illegal drugs, the recent deaths in Cork and elsewhere and sought a debate with the Minister in attendance to change the culture in this regard. I am sure the Minister will come into the House again. While Members held a debate on drugs only a couple of months ago, I am sure they can have a further debate. I take the opportunity to compliment the Garda Síochána and the Customs service on the recent major seizures of drugs throughout the country.

In response to Senator White, as Members will have a debate on small and medium-sized enterprises in a matter of minutes, I am sure she will participate in it to discuss the items she raised on the Order of Business. Senator Higgins last week raised the question of the accountability of banks and raised it again this afternoon. Senator Paul Coghlan called for a debate on banking, as well as complimenting the Kerry Group, which is a matter addressed previously.

Senator Conway raised the question of apartment blocks, the problems arising therefrom and queried the effect of the legislation passed on that matter last year. Perhaps Members could be provided with an update on that legislation soon.

Senator Daly referred to the NAMA and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Transparency Bill 2011, on which Members had a comprehensive debate when it was introduced in the House. However, the Senator wants to have a number of bites at the cherry in this regard.

Senator O'Neill raised the issue of discards of fish. Last Christmas, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, secured what probably was one of the best deals for fishermen in decades. I understood that some progress also had been made on the question of discards.

We will certainly ask the Minister to come in again to discuss the area of fisheries. He was here last week to deal with the Common Agricultural Policy and spent a long time with us dealing with that matter. It certainly was not Fine Gael which criminalised fishermen. That matter was dealt with by the previous Government.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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On a point of order-----

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I hope it is a point of order.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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I have a serious problem with the Leader's response to my question.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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That is not a point of order.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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It is a point of order. The Leader did not respond to the matter I raised.

Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)
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The Leas-Chathaoirleach has no control over the content of-----

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I cannot direct the Leader to-----

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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He said the Minister of State, Deputy Perry, would be coming in and would address the issue.

Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)
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He would give a better answer than I would.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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This is serious.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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That is not a point of order.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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My point is being treated frivolously. I want to know where the ¤3.5 billion this year went and I want transparency.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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That is not a point of order.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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Was it just given in overdrafts? That is a very serious issue.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Ó Domhnaill has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business, "That a debate on the increase by AIB in the variable interest rate on mortgages be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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It is in light of the total lack of commitment and the lack of a response to my learned colleague, Senator White.