Unfortunately, there has been a dispute between the Government and certain voluntary organisations for the past eight or ten months. We have pointed out in the past the valuable amount of work these voluntary organisations have done for agriculture here. We pointed out it was based on a firm foundation of co-operation, sitting down around the table, threshing out difficulties. It is impossible to have a firm foundation based on the wrangling, feuding, and fighting, which, unfortunately, we have had for the past nine months. Voluntary organisations such as the NFA, the ICMSA, Muintir na Tuaithe, Macra na Feirme, the Countrywomen's Association and others have done trojan voluntary work over the years. We think they are being provoked in this Bill. There is no denying that the idea of the Bill is to keep those organisations, particularly one organisation, from getting representation on the committees of agriculture. Since there has been no further escalation, even at this late stage we would appeal to the Minister to withdraw this Bill and let everybody in this country get on with the work.
We are facing a difficult period in the history of our country. Next week we start negotiations to enter the EEC. We cannot say that will be a bed of roses for our farmers or for our industrialists. But we can all say that if we are to succeed in the future, be it in agriculture, industry or labour relations, all sections of the community should be pulling together and working in harmony. I hope there is a good prospect now that that may happen. Now that we have a certain amount of peace and we are all hoping there is an end to this unfortunate business, if the Minister proceeds with this Bill, there is a danger again of his throwing petrol on the smouldering embers and starting the fire all over again. Nobody wants to see that happening at the present time. We should appeal—and it is in the best interests of the agricultural community and of the country as a whole—to the Minister, even at this late stage, to withdraw the Bill and not proceed further with it.