Dan Boyle (Green Party)

——just to repeat, the policy of the Government is, in the words of the Minister, that incineration is not the preferred waste disposal option, and that continues to be the case. We await the result of an international review of best waste management practice and I hope that will inform decisions being made in areas like Rathcoole.

I agree with, and point out, some of the areas about which Senator Norris spoke on the amalgamation of agencies. The budget brings about 32 new agencies from a previous list of 56. I regret the loss of independence for the Combat Poverty Agency, but we should acknowledge also some of the good amalgamations that are being suggested and we should debate those in this House. For instance, I refer to the combination of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority. I, for one, will not regret the passing of the Competition Authority given that organisation's ill-judged contribution to dealing with the medical card issue this week.

To put right one of the points Senator Norris made, my belief is that the full operations of the Equality Authority and the Irish Human Rights Commission are unaffected. The only measure being proposed in the budget is they are sharing a secretariat, and I welcome that.