With excellent timing, I call Senator Robbie Gallagher.

For a change, says you.

Spot on.

I thank the Cathaoirleach. Recent data from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine shows that in 2025 we imported 40,000 tonnes of beef, which is the equivalent of about 118,000 steers, based on average weight. It is a strange statistic really, when we consider that we export seven times more beef than we import. Our largest customer for our beef is the UK. It is ironic that the majority of the 40,000 tonnes of beef we imported last year came from the UK. Farmers are asking what I would claim is a legitimate question: what is going on here? Why are we importing 40,000 tonnes of beef from the UK when that country is our largest customer for beef? Is it to do with price control or what is going on? It is fair to say we need answers in relation to this matter.

Turning to the poultry sector, last year we imported €629 million worth of poultry products into the country, while we exported approximately €165 million worth of poultry. The poultry industry employs roughly 5,000 to 6,000 people throughout the country. Of that figure, the vast majority, 2,000 to 3,000 people, are based in the Border counties, including in my area of Monaghan and Cavan. According to the Minister for agriculture, the majority of the poultry in our retail shops is imported. I would like if the Acting Leader could organise for the Minister for agriculture to come into the House so we can have a debate in relation to the beef and poultry sectors and perhaps get a few answers as to why we are importing the quantities of beef and poultry that we are. It raises many questions, and if the Minister were in this House, he may very well be able to give us the answer to those questions.

I concur with what Senator Gallagher said. I sit on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food and these issues are debated weekly, but I think there are good reasons for it. Certainly, within the European Union, it makes sense that we do business. That is just a general comment. I would welcome a debate in this House, but I think there are many reasons for this situation. We advocate for trade and competition, of course, and therefore we must engage with competition, certainly within the member states.

I thank the Leader's office for facilitating additional time this afternoon for the debate on the Government’s package of fuel supports. It is worthy of debate. I thank the Leader and the Leader's office for being open to extending the period for the debate, given the measure of interest in this topic outside these Houses. I convey my thanks for that and I look forward to engaging with the topic. Additional supports of €100 million have been provided specifically for farmers, fishers, foresters, etc. That is important. We will have that debate later and I acknowledge that.

I was in Galway the week before last in the context of the forthcoming by-election. I want to speak about something I have been talking about for all the years I have been in the Seanad, which is the publication of rural housing guidelines.

Today, however, the Cabinet is talking about modular housing, an idea dreamt up less than 12 months ago. We now have a circular today on issues relating to that. Everyone in this House from a rural area has spoken about it, whether it is Senators from Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, but somehow it is falling on deaf ears. No one is listening. No Minister will come in here and give us a commitment. All we are asking is that a draft copy of the rural housing guidelines be published. I will revisit this matter tomorrow. It is a big issue for everyone on the doors in Galway, but it should be everywhere. It is time we stopped talking out of both sides of our mouths and got clarity on what is the Government's intention in respect of this matter.