I would like to thank the party colleagues who have given me support and solidarity, in the difficult circumstances that have recently arisen. As chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, I have enjoyed being able to make a constructive and informed contribution to agricultural policy, so as to provide much-needed support to Irish farmers during a period that has not been easy for anyone in agriculture.
I have met with my party colleagues on the Agriculture Committee. But not having the necessary support outside party ranks to continue in the chair and also wishing to avoid serious and unnecessary distractions from the work of Government, I have decided to step down today.
I wish to make it clear that I have done nothing wrong, that the incidents which led to this situation happened 10 years ago, and the business failures, which were outside my control, were well known to everyone. I am definitely not the first member of the House, or in all likelihood will I be the last, to suffer a business failure, which in a society which values enterprise should not be a cause of shame.
I have tried to rebuild my life with the support of my wife and family. While doing my best to mitigate hardship for others, I do recognise that some farmers in the west were hurt, and I continue to regret that. I have sought a meeting later today with the IFA to review the situation and to see what more can be done.
I intend to continue to serve the people of my constituency, in accordance with the trust they have repeatedly placed in me, and will be as ready to take on in the future any duties and responsibilities that the party wish to place upon me.
9 November 1999.