Michael Comiskey (Fine Gael)

I support my colleague, Senator Susan O'Keeffe, in her call for an extension date for slurry. There has been a very serious problem in recent months. Farmers did not spread slurry because of constant rain, in especially in the west. It would be fitting to extend the date.

I refer to the great cost imposed, in particular on publicans in rural Ireland, especially those in small villages, who may have to pay up to €5,500 in rates for their premises. A number of these people have contacted me. This is at a time when their doors are closed most of the time and they are open only for a few hours at night. We should debate this issue in the House. Ideas were floating around some months ago to the effect that we should facilitate people to get out and about, especially those living in rural Ireland who may be semi-isolated, who used to travel to pubs but cannot now do so because of the drink driving ban and the downturn in the economy. Such a move to help them get out and about would help their mental well-being. We should debate the whole issue, in particular that of publicans' rates, which is causing major concern.