Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I express my appreciation for the service we received from all the staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Senator Fitzgerald spoke about the good news for the economy. However, large multinationals are not our only exporters. Yesterday I heard a lovely story about a small 106 year old Irish polish manufacturing company, Malones of Dublin. The Asthma Society of Ireland, which advises that most cleaning products can trigger asthma, gave its imprimatur to Malones of Dublin. Asthma affects 500,000 people in Ireland and is very dangerous and easily triggered. It is great to discover the success of a small Irish company.

During the Lisbon referendum we were warned by "No" campaigners that Europe would be allowed to tell us what to do. My understanding of yesterday's judgment from the European Court of Human Rights is that it is in our own hands. Europe is not enforcing the judgment on us. As I am sure we will have to hold a referendum, I advise people to watch their language and avoid intemperate words. I do not wish to criticise Senator O'Toole because I greatly admire him but he used intemperate language in referring to a leader of a church in Ireland. We should be careful with the words we use when we hold the referendum because they can trigger reactions we do not want.

I realise Deputy Boyle hopes the climate change Bill will be the first matter on our agenda in the new year. I hope we deal with the Construction Contracts Bill 2010 beforehand, however.