Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also call for a debate on the terms of oil and gas exploration. We should welcome the announcement by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, to review the fiscal terms on oil and gas production and he is seeking expert advice on the best way to ensure maximum fiscal gain for Ireland. It is in line with the Labour Party manifesto commitment to initiate a wide review of the tax regime for oil and gas exploration. It is an area around which there is the major concern about the terms on which oil and gas exploration companies have been able to conduct drilling and investigations. It is good to see a review of it. It would be good for the House to debate the terms on which oil and gas production should take place. I ask the Leader for a debate before the summer recess.

I welcome the announcement by Dublin City Council that the dublinbikes scheme will be expanded to Kilmainham and Inchicore, on one side, and to the North Wall quay on the other side. The dublinbikes scheme has been an enormous success in terms of increasing the number of people cycling in the city. It is good to see that there will be 950 additional bicycles in this major expansion, which will be completed by July 2014. It will create extra jobs but it is also a major asset to our capital city. I welcome the expansion.