John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

It is just a technical question but I accept the Cathaoirleach's point.

I agree with Senator Butler. Virtually every day in the House Members of the Opposition raise the issue of public private partnerships and the apparent collapse of such initiatives in respect of social housing in Dublin. Will the Leader explain why this debate is not on the Order of Business this week? Since it is not scheduled for this week, will he do his utmost to have it on the Order of Business for next week, or at the earliest possible opportunity?

I second the amendment of my colleague, Senator Coghlan, to the Order of Business to the effect that the House should discuss the area of rip-off, with particular reference to the National Consumer Agency and the sterling price difference, which has spiralled out of control in recent months. Before finishing, I want to echo the calls of other Opposition Senators who have expressed disappointment at the words attributed to the Taoiseach at the weekend in terms of his criticisms of the Opposition campaign on the Lisbon treaty. In my constituency it is the Fine Gael campaign alone that has any presence on the ground. The Taoiseach attended a public meeting organised by his party in a neighbouring village to mine last week, where he barely referred to the Lisbon treaty. That turned out, in effect, to be a Fianna Fáil party meeting.