Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I support Senator O'Toole's request that the President should not reply to the Independent Deputy who asked her to provide clarification on aspects of the Lisbon reform treaty. It is wholly inappropriate to attempt to involve the President's office. This is unfair manipulation by the "No" campaign.

I read in The Irish Times today about proposed EU guidelines for websites. I welcome this in light of the mention we made yesterday of cyber bullying and intimidation across the web. It is important for the European Union to take the initiative and consider self-regulation and legislation for this area that will protect the welfare and safety of our children. Parents and children will welcome this move forward because many of the sites that affect our children are hosted outside of Ireland.

I call for the Minister with responsibility for energy to come to the House to discuss the increasing price of fuel, particularly diesel. The increases are affecting the costs of all market goods, particularly food and the cost of living is spiralling out of control. Diesel has just gone up by another 5 cent at pumps in Galway and the same has probably happened throughout the country. The Minister is waiting for renewable energies to come on stream, but what measures is he going to take in the short term to curb inflation and reduce the costs of getting our goods to markets and to reduce the cost of the fuel needed to transport our goods?