Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

On the points raised by Members about the ESB, last year the amount of electricity produced in Ardnacrusha is the amount needed now to sustain the demand caused by the Christmas lights throughout the country. There is pressure on the national grid.

I ask the Leader for a debate on the sugar beet industry in light of the changes in biofuels made in the budget yesterday. The farming organisations are bitterly split on the future of the industry. Some want compensation while others want to continue growing sugar beet. The changes on biofuels announced in yesterday's budget will give optimism to some people to continue growing beet, which I hope might happen. I call for a debate, if not next week perhaps the first week after the Christmas recess, on the future of sugar beet and biofuels.

I am disappointed there was no change in stamp duty in yesterday's budget. That will put pressure on child care places as well.