Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to come before the House to discuss the recent decision by the Attorney General to issue a letter to local authorities in respect of the waste collection waiver scheme? I understand the Attorney General has advised county managers that the scheme should not be allowed for in their estimates when they are framing their budgets. This will have a severe impact on the marginalised in society. It will not affect private waste collection services but it will have an effect on local authorities which still carry out waste collections.

In light of President Bush's election victory last week, are there any plans to invite him to make an address to a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas? He has not done so to date and almost every other recent President of the United States has made such an address. Perhaps it is time to issue an invitation to Mr. Bush.