asked the Taoiseach if, when attending the next European Summit, he will arrange for the exceptional state of Irish agriculture to be placed on the agenda for special discussion.

It would not be in accordance with normal practice to indicate in advance what I may or may not say at the next meeting of the European Council. The Deputy can be assured, however, that, as a matter of general principle, Ministers and I will take every opportunity to defend and advance the interests of Irish agriculture in the Community.

The Taoiseach will be aware that I did not ask him what he will say at the next meeting but a quite different question as to whether he intended to place this matter on the agenda. The Taoiseach will be aware that it is the practice in the European Council since it began for member Governments to ask to have placed on the agenda matters which they wish to have discussed. This may range from two or three items up to, in one case, 14. Will this be placed on the agenda or not?

The agenda for the next meeting of the European Council has not been prepared and I am not in a position to say what may or may not be on the agenda or what may be appropriate to include on it. We availed of the occasion of the last Council meeting to outline the special position of Irish agriculture and I will avail of any suitable opportunity that presents itself too continue to do so.

If one wishes to have serious consideration of a matter of the European Council it is important that it should be specifically on the agenda and that general discussion on the economic and social situation, offering an opportunity to throw in some odd remark about Irish agriculture, offers no substitute for a substantive discussion on an item on the agenda placed there by a head of Government with the agreement of other heads of Governments.

The Deputy is out of touch with the manner in which European Council meetings have been developing in recent times.

Is the Taoiseach suggesting there is no longer an agenda for these meetings?

There is a wish on behalf of most heads of Governments that the Council meetings should not deal with specific economic issues in the manner the Deputy appears to envisage.

That is great comfort to the farmers.

There is usually on the agenda a general item covering economic and social development.

The British Prime Minister secured large advantages by having a similar matter placed on the agenda at several European Councils. Why should we not take a leaf from her book in a matter of equal importance?

(Cavan-Monaghan): The Taoiseach does not think it important enough.

It does not rate a mention.