THE Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Yates, defended the deal with the Russians which had excluded beef from Cork, Tipperary and Monaghan.

Regarding his remark that the deal was finalised at Dublin Airport, he said he had not said he was there. "What I meant was that I effected the deal, agreed to it and took full responsibility for it."

He had been in continuing contact with the secretary and assistant secretary of his Department in the days before October 12th, when the deal was done. Several counties were mentioned and, in the end, he agreed to the deal. "I was not in the VIP lounge [at Dublin Airport]. I never sought to pretend that I was. If that was the impression I unreservedly apologise and make no bones about that."

Mr Ray Burke (FF, Dublin North) said: "You said you were there. It is not an impression."

Mr Yates: "I have not seen anywhere on the record that I said I was there. I effected and stood over the deal. If there was a misconception about that I apologise for it."

The important issue was that the protocol was signed and that it allowed continued export of our beef to Russia. "I took the right decision. I have accepted responsibility for that decision. I have defended it and will continue to defend it. Reference has been made to a comment which I made on the politics programme [on RTE Network 2 television] last Saturday which was brought to my attention last evening. I accept that I made that comment; it was one of many comments and many interviews. It is a sentence out of what has been a two week debate on that matter.

"However, if I created a misleading impression, then I apologise for that. I also regret that, in a comment in the House yesterday, I may have unwittingly misled deputies on this subject. I simply had forgotten that I had used that sentence. What I meant was that I effected the deal, agreed to it and took full responsibility for it."

He had given a full, frank and detailed account of events leading to the agreement on the protocol with Russia. "I stand fully over the version of events which I have given to this House, both in the statement I made last week and in the private members' time motion this week. They are totally accurate and they are totally true."

It was traditional that veterinary protocols were discussed at the appropriate technical level and signed by officials, usually at chief veterinary officer level.

"The decision to sign the protocol was taken by me in circumstances where I was fully convinced that there was no alternative other than a total and immediate ban on Irish beef going to Russia. Dr Avilov [Russian veterinary official] and another member of his delegation signed the protocol on the Russian side. On the Irish side the protocol was signed by the chief veterinary officer and the relevant assistant secretary. These officials signed as authorised officers and with my authority and my agreement. The Russian officials were aware that this was the case."

It had been alleged that he "tried to hide behind officials" in regard to signing the protocol. The deputies who said that, including the Fianna Fail spokesman on agriculture, Mr Brian Cowen, had ministerial experience and were familiar with the procedures on issues like this.

Mr Yates accepted political responsibility. He had monitored the discussions closely and nothing was agreed without his approval. "The impact of this protocol is that it will facilitate our continued presence in our largest third country outlet for beef, a market with vast potential. It prevents us from falling into safety net intervention or from becoming completely dependent on intervention.

"Discussions have been held with the Russian authorities and with the meat trade about the implementation of this protocol. The details are such that it can be done in a way which prevents disruption and avoids any necessity for a regionalised price."

While the research findings published in Britain on Wednesday "are undoubtedly interesting and important, they are not entirely startling". Once the possibility of a link between BSE and CJD had been raised, however tenuous, that had been factored into the control system. Therefore, no new additional control measures had been needed to deal with the consequences of the research.

There was considerable research taking place into BSE and related conditions and it had to be recognised that new information and findings would come forward. He could not overemphasise the need for water tight controls and the fact that the genuine concerns of third country purchasers had to be met.

Strict controls over meat and bone meal had been introduced and he would be making it an "absolute priority" that these controls be complied with. The special investigation unit of the Department would be expanded to oversee implementation.

He was considering new labelling requirements to provide better information for farmers and others to remove any doubts about the use of meat and bone meal. He considered that packages containing meat and bone meal should carry a notice that it must not be fed to ruminants.

He would be introducing legislation to require that, where appropriate, packages must include declarations that they contain mammalian meat and bone meal and that feeding it to cattle, sheep and other ruminants is prohibited.

"There have been more than enough recriminations about this matter and, in my view, to little avail. It is time to move on." The beef trade wanted to supply the Russian market and had achieved a dominant position there. Was that to be thrown away?

"I have not heard any argument from the other side of the House which leads me to believe that I took anything other than the right decision.

Earlier, Mr William Peurose (Lab, Westmeath) said that while there was no scientific basis for the action of the Russians, the only option the Minister had was to keep the Russian market open. If that market for 300,000 cattle was lost, farmers throughout the country would lose up to 5p per pound. It was deplorable that Cork, Tipperary and Monaghan were excluded from the Russian contract but the Minister had done the best he could.

Mr P.J. Sheehan (FG, Cork South West) said the Minister had done a good job in persuading the Russians not to put a blanket ban on beef from Ireland.

Mr Tom Kitt (FF, Dublin South) said the partial ban accepted by Mr Yates was reckless and opened up a Pandora's box of difficulties. It raised the question whether Mr Yates could any longer effectively function as Minister. He had "betrayed the country".