Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I commend Senator Norris on naming a number of programmes that were aired last night, although I did not get to see any of them. I note that none of them concerned the people who are currently involved in double-jobbing between radio and television programmes. Senator Norris is right when he says that we should try to expand the amount of talent within our national broadcasting company, and not have people monopolising radio and television programmes. The question concerning today's budget is whether it will examine that issue, given that the politicians were clearly told to stay away from double-jobbing.

The reason I did not see the programmes last night is that I left my house yesterday morning at 10 o'clock in the car to come to Dublin. I was trying to beat the weather because the gritter had gone past the house at 9.30 a.m., so I thought it was safe to drive. As I slid sideways and forwards down through the traffic and finally got to the bottom of the road safely, without taking six or seven cars with me, I parked and returned home.

I am seeking a debate on how Ireland copes with bad weather and why the National Roads Authority has monopolised salt supplies. The effect of the NRA centralising salt supplies means that Donegal County Council does not have any salt. The council always used to be able to manage salt reserves by getting extra supplies from Carrickfergus at a quick turnaround. I am thankful I was not a cancer patient yesterday trying to get to Dublin or a tourist trying to get to an airport. I left the car and tried to get a bus, but there were no buses because the road that had been gritted with a mixture of salt and sand was impassable half an hour later due to falling snow. A friend gave me a lift in a four-by-four to Derry where I got a train that was 30 minutes late because the driver was delayed coming from Donegal.