John Whelan (Labour)

It is difficult to do that if no legislation is being produced by the Dáil. Towards the end of the session, we find legislation being rammed through and dumped on top of us. We cannot give it a proper examination and then we are accused of guillotining important legislation that deserves more attention. For any media that want to pay attention, people comment on the Seanad without paying a blind bit of heed to it. Certain elements of the media seem to be hanging the wrong man and should take it up with Deputies and elements of the Government that seem to be scapegoating the Seanad for all our political ills. Perhaps the first shots were fired in the latest civil war on the future of the Seanad.

I commend the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, who sometimes comes in for undue criticism and does not get much praise. I commend the two initiatives he announced today regarding job creation. This must remain our core priority in Government. These involve new, creative initiatives for immigrants who can play a part and have a valuable role to play. That can be positive for the economy, and for immigrants and the new communities coming here, as was reflected on television the other night when the President, Michael D Higgins, visited St. Brigid's in Blanchardstown. Children of more than 25 ethnic backgrounds were represented. I commend that development because that is what we need.

I know that my colleagues are busy and are inundated with briefings and lobby groups but I would like to encourage them to attend an Oireachtas briefing by EirGrid across the road. They should not just take the handout and the press release from EirGrid, which pushes its version of events. EirGrid is doing this country and rural Ireland some disservice with its dismissive and condescending attitude to rural communities. I call on my colleagues to ensure they challenge EirGrid to engage in meaningful consultation with local communities in the roll-out of vital strategic national infrastructure. Two major motorways to Cork and Limerick, the M7 and M8, run through pristine countryside and areas of historic value in the heart of my county. There was no impediment, protest, roadblock or problem because of the approach of the NRA. However, we cannot say the same about the approach of EirGrid, which has a bully boy attitude to people. EirGrid creates an impediment to the roll-out of important infrastructure and the taxpayer will have to pick up the tab for delays.