Ivor Callely (Fianna Fail)

I listened with interest to the previous speaker. I agree with the need to investigate anything that would strike one to be improper. Equally we should recognise that there is a new Governor in the Central Bank of Ireland. The previous Governor is gone. The previous Governor did very good work on the macro issue when he was there and I have no doubt this micro issue should be investigated. However, we should be careful, as one of the previous other speakers said, not to give oxygen to this issue when there is a far bigger picture to be addressed. Perhaps we should wait for the pure facts to emerge and then perhaps marry them into what happens in the workplace. I believe this will pale into insignificance. That is my view; Senator Ross is entitled to his view. We should not give oxygen to something unless we have the clear facts and they are compared with what happens in the real word, for want of a better description.

I have consistently raised in this House the need to have a structured monthly or bi-monthly debate on the economy. I ask the Leader to indicate what progress has been made on the issue. I ask the Leader to investigate an issue that has been brought to my attention this morning. People, who had been approved for and given a waiver from payment of waste charges when Fianna Fáil controlled Dublin City Council, have been informed this morning that the new council is imposing a €6 charge for their grey bin lift. We have this at a time when there is controversy between the Minister and the council over the expenditure of €125,000 on one report alone. I understand the council has sought hundreds of reports of this nature.