Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I will take up that matter with him. Senator Leyden called for a debate on waste management and a debate on all kinds of energy. Senator Henry asked about the report on single parents. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs has agreed to come into the House for statements on the matter. The difficulty is in trying to get a date but he is willing to come. We hope a date can be arranged in May. He sent the message to the House because following the previous debate the Senator asked him to attend another one.

Senator Ó Murchú raised the issue of unity of purpose with regard to the North and said we should all move together, given all the positive developments, including the attendance of the DUP at the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body, the Independent Monitoring Commission report and the 1916 commemoration. The Senator made a fine point about the legitimacy of the 1916 Rising. We are having the conversation about the rising which the Taoiseach requested. The answer to questions about its legitimacy, which are often raised, has been set out.

Senator Ulick Burke noted action taken by the Competition Authority in the west against cartels operating in the sale of oil and diesel and indicated a new cartel is now operating in waste collection, with one company, Greenstar, taking over an entire facility in County Galway. We, in County Westmeath, do not want County Galway's waste but it keeps coming.

Senator Maurice Hayes referred to the positive nature of the DUP's visit to Killarney and asked that the House offer warm wishes to the Taoiseach. Senators would clearly wish to do so.

Senator Hanafin raised the case of a young man killed in the North after driving through a checkpoint. The Senator called for advertising for religious purposes to be allowed. He also stated that offshore energy companies should use or lose the exploration blocks they have been awarded.

I thank Senator Terry for raising the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident. I have noticed an increasing number of newspaper pieces asking why Ireland should not have nuclear energy. We should stamp on such arguments when we see them because we cannot have nuclear power.