John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I did not say there was.

I agree with my colleagues who asked for a debate on the tolling issue and express my concern at the suggestion from the Minister for Transport that the hard toll which exists on the M50 at the West Link would be replaced by any other form of tolling such as the possibility of multiple tolling at different junctions and intersections on the M50. If that is the Government's policy on transportation and tolling it is no wonder there is such gridlock, backlog and congestion on the M50 and throughout the country on a daily basis.

I also concur with my colleagues in asking the Leader to arrange a debate on the nitrates directive. I asked for such a debate last week and it is timely that we have it. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has deferred implementation of aspects of the directive. If it were to be implemented in the manner in which the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government sought on 1 February, it would have had a very detrimental impact on commercial agriculture in this country. Senator McHugh is correct to state that farmers know what is best practice. They have been the custodians of the land for generations. They know when soil and ground conditions are correct to apply fertiliser, whether it is artificial or organic. Some weight should be given to the years of experience farmers have gathered before this directive is implemented.

I agree with the point made by Senator Leyden on the announced withdrawal of Statoil from the fuel market. It is a retrograde step. The company stated this morning that it is withdrawing because it is being undercut, particularly by competitors such as Tesco. However, Statoil is one of the main suppliers of fuel to Tesco in this country. How can it make such a statement and keep a straight face? It beggars belief.