Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I do. This was a missed opportunity. Yesterday the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, presented us with his proposals for the introduction of a €100 household charge from next January, an increase in refuse charges and a new charge for sewerage services to apply to the 440,000 people in rural areas who have their own septic tanks. Where will it all end? Yesterday was a black day for ordinary people and for those who own property, who are facing huge charges. Why was there no negotiation on that aspect of the EU-IMF package? The interest rate saving should have been passed on to consumers in the budget by dispensing with the introduction of the €100 household charge. We should have a debate in the autumn on the implications of all of these charges for householders.

It was regrettable that yesterday's debate on the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 was guillotined. While I welcome the manner in which the Order of Business has been restructured - and credit must go to the Leader in that regard - it is unacceptable that legislation continues to be guillotined. Many of us had more to add to the debate in regard to special protection areas and so on.