Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

On the issue of broadband, I agree very much with what Senators Twomey and Ross said. What they are seeking is something we have been promised by the Government for years. As the Leader is probably aware, he being a frequent visitor to Killarney, the tourism capital of Ireland, if one travels three or four miles east or west to Headford or Fossa, one would hear from the people living there that they have been trying for years to get a connection but have not been able to get it. This is an important issue. We would all support fully the spirit of what Senator Ross is trying to achieve. It is something to which we all subscribe.

On perhaps a more topical and important issue, which was touched on here in previous days, I do not believe anybody understands why diesel costs so much more than petrol. No one is aware of any new or different methods of refining it. It appears on the surface at least that the consumer is very much being got at. No one wants us to get back the tag we had for some time, of being rip-off Ireland but anyone who listened to a radio programme this morning would have heard about many high prices across the board. I have discussed the price of diesel with many people and no one to whom I talked can understand the reason for its high price.