Michael Brennan (Progressive Democrats)

I second Senator Morrissey's proposal regarding No. 7, the Defence of Life and Property Bill 2006. I agree that householders should not be penalised for acts of self-defence carried out on their own property.

Over the past 12 months all sides of the House have welcomed the €5.1 billion water services investment programme. I call on the Acting Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House for an update on the schemes scheduled to start in 2006 and 2007. Local authorities and the community in general are dependent on those developments taking place. Where development has not taken place, it is time for the Minister to review the situation and take remedial action.