Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I wish to join others in congratulating the Government on the very professional handling of the visit to Ireland by the Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping. It was a wonderful occasion and it will have long-term effects on trade. A proposed trading hub for Chinese products in Athlone will create 2,500 jobs. I hope that will go through. The GAA played a very important role in welcoming the vice president, as was the case during the visit of Queen Elizabeth II. The visit to Croke Park was important. The GAA, as a major voluntary organisation, was to the fore in the role of job creation.

This is just an observation, but let the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government note that the issue of registration charges for septic tanks has not gone away. A meeting last night on this issue in Ballygar was well attended. Rural dwellers are determined not to register until a grant scheme is put in place by the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan. That is absolutely crucial and it obvious from the contributions that Fianna Fáil has been leading the opposition to this issue. I am now more convinced than ever that there will be a very low uptake on registration. By registering a septic tank, one is allowing oneself to be assessed and processed.