It is lovely to be back in the Chamber again. The summer recess was far too long and I feel we should all have been back a few weeks ago, getting on with the hugely important issues facing citizens.

Today the Green Party published legislation on microbeads which are small plastic beads found in soaps and cosmetics. They are causing contamination in our marine environment, as well as rivers and inland waterways. The legislation seeks to prohibit the manufacture and sale of microbeads and we hope we will receive support from this House on the matter. The Minister for Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Deputy Denis Naughten, said on radio this morning that he would be interested in banning the use of microbeads. The legislation will be brought before this House in the coming weeks when I hope all Senators will support it.