Catherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join in the comments of previous speakers on diesel laundering. The criminal activity that surrounds this is of huge concern as it is only a matter of time before something really serious could happen in terms of people's lives. I heard a very interesting suggestion on the radio this morning which perhaps has been considered by the authorities. Low-level radiation is used in diesel to stop the laundering because that is something that could not be laundered. I thought it was a very interesting suggestion which has perhaps already been discovered. Perhaps the Government could ask universities, scientists or other groups to hold a national competition of some sort to see who could come up with a way of stopping diesel laundering by putting something in the diesel that could not be laundered. We need to be innovative about this problem because it causes huge loss to the Exchequer and is a serious issue not only in the Border counties but in general.

I join Senator Mullins and others in respect of small businesses. We heard a very interesting presentation yesterday from various speakers on the issue of sick pay. The Government needs to look at the harsh reality that if one pays people to be absent, they will be absent. That is the reality.