Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael)

I wish to second the proposal by Senator Fitzgerald for an amendment to the Order of Business. One of the points she forcefully made concerned examples of public moneys being wasted by the Government. An unfortunate example of this will take place in August when a new barrier system comes into operation on the M50. This House should examine where large amounts of Exchequer funding have been invested in semi-State bodies, and how that money was spent. We should also examine examples of where semi-State bodies are levying charges that are adding to the cost of living, thus hampering our economic competitiveness. During August, a new M50 barrier system will commence, which has cost the Exchequer €488 million to purchase. The new scheme will ask each user if they want to buy into the new plant, paying €52 to participate. The scheme will cost the Exchequer €25 million annually, despite the fact that the State will have spent almost €0.5 billion buying out what is in operation at the moment. We will see further examples of where the Exchequer will be asked to pay out more and citizens will also be asked to pay more to participate in the new scheme. We need to challenge this kind of thinking as we move into a new economic environment. We must ensure that public moneys are being spent well and that taxpayers do not face further rises in the cost of living.

In recent months, other speakers have raised issues concerning homelessness and the rental sector. I have frequently raised these matters myself. Last week, a Government strategy was published to make more use of the rental sector for homeless people and drug addicts. New rental regulations are urgently required, together with a new local authority scheme to improve management of conditions in the rental sector, otherwise we will be putting even more taxpayers' money into a sector that is not regulated or run properly.