Yesterday the European Commission decided to issue an 18-month extension to the approval for the sale of products which contain the chemical glyphosate. This chemical is used by the Monsanto company in its common weedkiller Roundup. There are serious concerns about the cancer causing properties of glyphosate. The Commission announced some new, non-binding restrictions on the use of products containing glyphosate, including restrictions on their use before harvest time and minimising their use in public parks and playgrounds. It is imperative to invite the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to the House to let us know how and if Ireland will join the many other EU member states that already restrict the use of glyphosate.