Brendan Kenneally (Fianna Fail)

It would be useful to invite the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to the House — I realise he is new to his brief and has not yet come before us — to discuss the charges levied by mobile telephone operators which are much higher here than in any of our European neighbours or, as far as I can gather, any other country in the world. We have debated the matter at great length in the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, which has been informed by the operators that the reason is that people here talk for longer on mobile telephones than people anywhere else. We have been unable to determine a basis for their charges. Perhaps a debate in the House would highlight the abuses taking place.

I fully support Senator Finucane's comment that fireworks should only be used by responsible adults in certain controlled environments, which include Hallowe'en bonfires. I am aware of at least one residents' association in Waterford which has banned a Hallowe'en bonfire because it is being used to dump domestic waste, sofas and so forth. Bonfires are becoming an environmental hazard not to mention the problems they cause for residents in the areas in question. Local authorities must adopt a hands-on approach which could include licensing some such events. To do so, however, they will need additional funding because waste removal incurs costs. While it may be too late to take action this year, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government could introduce a pilot scheme. I ask that this proposal be conveyed to the Minister.