Dan Boyle (Green Party)

I would like to be associated with the condolences expressed on the deaths of the two firefighters in Bray. Senator de Búrca, who lives in and has represented the Bray area, brought up this issue yesterday. The points made by Senator Fitzgerald deserve further discussion and they fall within the bailiwick of my colleague, the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It is undoubtedly true that some of the reports on upgrading the fire service are in dire need of being implemented. An urban centre like Bray, which must be in the top dozen population centres in the country, should have something more than a part-time fire service. The Minister would be interested to implement that particular agenda.

Senator O'Toole raised another fair point on the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. This is the second education issue that has been raised on the Order of Business in the last two days. It makes the case for having a special debate on general education matters. I also thank him for his comments on the introduction of new energy efficiency standards for buildings. I am happy to pass them on to the Minister. The programme for Government includes a commitment to the introduction of a €100 million attic and wall insulation grant scheme and I hope that goes some way towards the type of improvement he would like to see.

Whatever about the EU directive on illegal labour, Senator White again made a fair point for a general debate in this House with the new Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with responsibility for integration policy. This is a position we argued strongly for in the programme for Government and I am sure the Minister for State will be happy to come into the House and discuss those issues.

I would like to make one suggestion for future debate. Senators have received in their post today copies of the appropriation accounts and annual report of the Comptroller and Auditor General for 2006. While this House does not have direct responsibility for expenditure matters, we should have a role to play in analysing how public services are provided through the proper use of resources. This report should be a matter for annual debate in the House. Such a debate can be facilitated if Members are interested.