Ivana Bacik (Independent)

It is a strong symbol of this Government's commitment to third level education to see the Grangegorman campus finally going ahead and the DIT being moved from 39 locations in which it is located across the capital. That is really excellent and it will also rejuvenate that inner city area.

There will be investment in health - in primary care centres - in transport and in the justice area. I am really glad to see the State pathology laboratory will be invested in. It is long overdue and it is really important investment for the future.

Will the Leader arrange a debate on the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall's, alcohol abuse package? I very much hope the package of measures will go to Cabinet next week. We need to support her in putting forward this range of very important measures to try to curb the abuse of alcohol which has been the topic of so much debate in this House and elsewhere, in particular following the recent gig in the Phoenix Park. Some doubts have been expressed about curbing sponsorship of sports by alcohol companies but I think that is misguided. If one looks back, one will see the same issues were raised about cigarette company sponsorship. We now all accept that was wrong. Some years ago I raised in this House the issue of a very well-known beer company sponsoring children's sports and football kits. It was most inappropriate to see young children going around with the beer company's logo on their t-shirts. I am glad to see that has stopped but we need to be more radical in curbing sponsorship by alcohol companies.

I thank colleagues who came forward to join the Oireachtas all-party cyclists group which met last week. We launched it on a very busy Kildare Street where we had a cycle safety class. I hope other colleagues will join with me and that we can have a debate on transport and on promoting the use of cycling as part of our transport policy.