Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

I also join the calls for an emergency debate to be held on the issue of prices, particularly diesel prices. We have raised this issue in the House in the past. Diesel prices have risen excessively and somebody is making enormous profits. Suppliers are riding on the back of the fact that many people have switched to diesel cars because of the perceived environmental benefits and are making unhealthy profits as a result. We need a debate on this issue.

I ask the Leader to bring the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism to the House to discuss how the Arts Council awards grants. I will give one example of an incident that is causing concern. The Upstage Theatre Project in Drogheda saw its grant reduced in the last year. It appealed this and an independent assessor who reviewed the appeal found in favour of the said arts company. Yet the Arts Council chose to ignore the result because it did not like it, and refused to give the full grant. We need to have a discussion on the acceptance of decisions of independent arbitrators by the Arts Council.