David Norris (Independent)

I do not intend to but I have managed, through the Cathaoirleach's benevolence, to name the ones I wanted to mention.

I agree with the comments made about the unfortunate family in Limerick who had no connection whatever with crime. They are innocent but because they are seen as attracting unwelcome attention the community, instead of protecting them, appears to want to reject them. A total of 50 people signed that petition which was handed to the Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea whose secretary delivered it to the city council. Deputy Peter Power, a representative from Limerick, refused to answer whether he had handed on a similar one. I would like to know if he did, and if so whether he attached a health warning to it.

As people will be travelling by road in this season when the light is bad I wish to raise an issue with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. A man contacted me who must travel on a road where the hedgerow and trees extend over the road scratching the paintwork on his car and making it almost impossible to see. When he complained to Mayo County Council he received the following answer:

I have been given strict instructions this year to minimise the amount of work been done to trim hedges on these minor roads. Due to this budgetary constriction I cannot guarantee that your road will be trimmed this year as it has been several years since other minor roads have had their hedges trimmed.

How is that for safety in rural Ireland?