Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I support Senator Brian Hayes's comments about Derry. When I was in Belfast yesterday afternoon, however, the divisions in that city were clear. When one drives through Belfast at this time of the year, one sees a great deal of regalia in one part of it, followed by a vacuum in the next district, followed by the regalia once more. One can hear drums, etc. As a society, we should strive for a time when the shamrock, the lambeg, the harp and the sash can coexist happily. It seems that we are a long way from that, however. The example shown in Derry represents the way forward and deserves to be welcomed as such.

Perhaps I am moving from the sublime to the ridiculous by mentioning that I have written this morning to the Superintendent of the Houses of the Oireachtas about the condition of the ducks which are living beside the coffee dock in the Leinster House 2000 part of this complex. I understand that three of the ducks have died in recent weeks. It reflects badly on the Oireachtas if its Members do not take responsibility for a matter of this nature. Who is in charge of the issue? Some members of staff have been very helpful and have done their best to deal with the problem in some way. We will be the subject of global headlines if we allow more harmless and innocent ducks to die on our property by failing to look after them. Perhaps the Cathaoirleach can use his good office to examine this matter. Somebody should take charge of the problem by dealing with it properly. The ISPCA has been informed of the issue, but it does not seem to have taken any action. I think we should take action.

I spoke in the House approximately two weeks ago about the difference between farm gate prices and the prices being paid by consumers in retail outlets. The growth of farmers' markets has offered consumers a useful alternative and given them useful information. I listened to a farmer from Wexford earlier today. He said he can get four times as much revenue by selling at farmers' markets. That is a clear indication of where the money is going, even if one has to take into consideration the cost of slaughter, time and transport, etc. It should be emphasised, in the context of the debate we had last week about the Common Agricultural Policy, that new approaches need to be taken and encouraged. We need to say to the EU that farmers' markets should be encouraged, rather than closed down. Given that lamb prices, for example, are collapsing, we need to promote initiatives of this nature. Ordinary consumers do not know when meat prices collapse. They might read about such collapses in the newspapers, but they do not benefit when they go to butchers' shops, etc., to buy meat. Those involved in both ends of the process — farmers and consumers — lose out. I would like a discussion on the matter.

The Dublin Port tunnel will be up and running, and certain decisions will have to be made, by the time the House meets again in the autumn. It seems to me that we are on the point of making some daft decisions. We were led to believe that traffic going to the port tunnel from the M50 would travel along an approved route. It is all very fine that heavy goods vehicles are not allowed to travel along certain roads, but other roads are becoming rat-runs. It seems that someone has declared "open sesame" in respect of the Oscar Traynor Road in Santry, for example. The transport authorities should make a clear decision to approve an appropriate central route from the M50 to the port tunnel.