Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of farm safety in the context of the regrettable decision to slash the farm safety budget for 2017. The decision taken by the Health and Safety Authority to cut the budget by 25%, from €384,000 last year to €287,000 this year, is alarming and very hard to fathom when one considers that, so far this year, unfortunately, there have been 13 fatalities in the agriculture sector. Of the 45 fatalities last year, 16 were in the agriculture sector. Those of us who grew up on a farm know that it is a great place in which to grow up but a dangerous place in which to work. As I said, the decision by the Health and Safety Authority is regrettable. Will the Leader raise the issue with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with a view to having it reversed?

I congratulate everyone involved in the John West Féile Peile na nÓg hosted by counties Cavan, Monaghan and Fermanagh over the weekend. As Members will be aware, it is a club football competition for all children under 14 years of age and more than 6,500 children and their families visited the three counties mentioned. I compliment and congratulate the GAA clubs in the three counties for the hospitality showed to their guests. I have spoken to a number of guests from different parts of the country and they were extremely happy with the event. The weather was good and they had a very enjoyable time.

I second the proposal made by Senator Rose Conway-Walsh on bin charges. It is regrettable that one year on from the last controversy there is total confusion about what the charges will be for consumers. The Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, needs to get his act together and come to the House to explain how much extra people will be charged. He has admitted that there will be additional charges, which is regrettable. As there is a great deal of confusion and anger about this issue, will the Leader ask the Minister to come to the House to update us on the matter in order that we can update our communities?