Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I congratulate the Labour Party on an excellent Private Members' motion tonight, which my party will support, on public transport in Dublin. The Leader has circulated an amendment to the motion which is interesting. She suggests that she endorses the progress made in providing a light rail system in Dublin, which appears to run counter to her stated views on the subject. I understand the Minister, Deputy Brennan, is currently on something of a work to rule when it comes to the Seanad. Has he been found for tonight's debate and will he be here? Will the Leader put on the record tonight the documentary evidence about which she spoke in the Sunday Independent last week when she stated categorically that any disruption to the Luas has happened over the past 16 months? Will she make the documentary evidence available to the House in the context of the excellent Labour Party Private Members' motion?

Will the Leader make time available this week for a statement from the Government on the ongoing bin protests in Dublin? It is an absolute disgrace that thousands of householders in this city cannot have their waste collected because of a number of jumped up Trotskyites who are standing in the way. I put it to the Leader and the Government that it is time to become tough on this issue. It is time to take action in relation to a very small minority of people who are standing in the way of these bins being collected and of ordinary people going about their business. The Government will have the support of my party if a tough stance is taken on this matter. It is time this small minority of people took their protest to next year's local government elections rather than to the streets of this city.

I am sure the Leader joins me in giving our full support to the Irish troops travelling today under the UN banner to Liberia in western Africa. Many other Irish people are there, including Concern and other NGO organisations. These people have our best wishes and support going to that war torn country. Given the historical context between the United States of America and Liberia, there is an additional responsibility on the current US Administration to support the efforts for peace and reconciliation in Liberia and to bring to an end the appalling civil strife which has taken place in the country over the past 20 years.