Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I will not trespass on the Cathaoirleach's patience by responding to congratulations he thinks should not have been offered in the first place. I reflect on an American friend who said, "Lord let me live in your vineyard but in a consultative capacity".

I support the remarks of Senator Ó Murchú on the inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Mr. MacEntee is an outstanding man of significant integrity and great ability. I hope the families have the confidence in him to allow the inquiry to progress, but they need to be involved and the question of providing their legal fees and expenses should be considered.

On the question of the environment and waste management I ask the Leader if the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government could be asked to consider the ramifications of this on Northern Ireland and what co-operation might exist with authorities there. There is a real problem of people fly dumping across the Border, which involves criminality. Much of the waste material is not actually going to China, it is going to counties Tyrone and Fermanagh. The Northern Ireland version of the Criminal Assets Bureau is currently pursuing some people for the profits they made from fly dumping and that might be another instrument the State could use in dealing with that problem.