Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I always have shivers when I hear we are not to have a debate on an issue. I have a real concern regarding the Abattoirs Act. I do not quite understand how we can deal with the Abattoirs Act 1988 (Abattoirs Licences)(Transfer of Functions) Regulations 2004 without debate. The health of our nation depends on the traceability of the food products we eat. This is so important an issue that we must ensure we do not merely hand responsibility for it over to somebody else. I am not sure what happened yesterday or why this order has been rescinded. Clearly there was a mix-up somewhere. We should ensure we do not too readily accept that an issue as important as this will be dealt with without debate.

I wish to raise the announcement during the week that the interconnector plans are set to be abandoned. Ireland's electricity costs are 10% to 20% more expensive than in the UK. Plans to build a €400 million interconnector have had to be abandoned. I am not sure why the Commission for Energy Regulation has done so, but it is something we should not allow to pass. It was only in February that the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Dermot Ahern, announced this. That it is abandoned within months of that announcement when it had such clear benefit to Ireland should not be allowed to pass without thought.

We should not allow Luas to start today without celebrating the fact that after a long and painful process it is ready. I wish it well. I spoke to Oliver Moore who was the ticket collector on the last tram in Howth back in 1957 or thereabouts. He will be on the first Luas when it starts today at 11.30 a.m. I congratulate those who have managed to get this off the ground.