Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I join other speakers in calling for a debate on drugs. I congratulate the "Prime Time Investigates" programme makers and RTE on last night's forceful investigative programme and look forward to tonight's follow-up programme.

I refer to the policing of our shoreline and waters. The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority received €14 million in the budget to persecute fishermen around the coastline. We depend on the goodwill of fishermen to police our waters by bringing to the attention of the authorities any finds they make, of which there are many. We need to bear in mind that a co-ordinated and integrated approach is required not only among political parties, as I said last week. Political parties came together to fight subversives in the 1980s and the same type of political approach is now required. We need an integrated approach and to bear in mind that fishermen, in effect, police our waters.

I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government's green budget last week. It is a good move and is indicative of the Green Party's involvement in Government. I look forward to it being rolled out. I refer to low emission cars. Will the Government lead by example in respect of the ministerial fleet? Has any Volvo or Mercedes-Benz been replaced by a Toyota Prius or a car with low emissions? The Government must lead by example. I understand the Minister of State, Deputy Trevor Sargent, is using a Toyota Prius, an initiative taken by Niall Ó Brolcháin when he was mayor of Galway. I would like such an initiative to be taken in respect of the entire ministerial fleet. If we expect the ordinary citizen to drive low emission cars, the Government must lead by example.