Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Approximately 18 months ago, a referendum was held on this House, that is, on the reform of the Seanad. However, nothing happened afterwards and then, some time around the end of last year, the Taoiseach decided he would appoint a committee that should report by the end of March. As today marks the end of March, things are taking a long time. However, the group established is highly distinguished, mainly comprising former Senators. While its members are highly competent and capable regarding whatever it is they are coming up with for a reformed Seanad, leaving it until April Fool's Day to report does not seem to augur well, assuming the aforementioned report will be made available tomorrow. I hope this will happen and ask the Leader to check, if he can, to establish what has happened with that report because the committee started with great hope.

If I may, I will follow through on what Senator Darragh O'Brien spoke about in respect of the variable mortgage interest rates. What really got me about this is that for those banks that have introduced lower rates, it is only for new customers. It is the most outrageously unfriendly thing to do, that is, to tell one's regular customers that one does not regard them to be as important as strangers who are coming in the door for the first time. A debate is needed on this issue and I look forward to having such a debate soon.

Tomorrow marks the start of a huge campaign around the country, in which individuals will be asked to make sure we have a cleaner Ireland, an Ireland with less litter and which does not scatter rubbish all around the place. Ireland is the sixth biggest generator of household rubbish - I am unsure in which area but I think it is not just the European Union but the entire OECD area. Ireland has a bad record in this regard but we can do something about it. This something is not going to be done by the State or by councils but by us individually if, as a nation, we can say we are not going to put up with this but are going to do something about it. The ideal way of making sure that we are not obliged to clean up is to not put out the litter in the first instance. I believe the campaign that starts tomorrow needs the support of everybody and if it gets that support the whole attitude to a dirty Ireland could be changed to one of having a clean Ireland.