The public library service makes an enormous contribution nationally. Public libraries have been the focal point for many communities in Ireland for more than 100 years and used as a safe haven for schoolgoers, college students, the elderly, the homeless and active retired people. The friendly and professional staff in our libraries have formed part of the social fabric of many communities with many movements and community organisations having started life in the public library setting. The move towards staffless libraries is a bad one for the country. The schemes have been rolled out in Dún Laoghaire and counties Offaly and Sligo have been rightfully met with discontent by members of the community and staff. It is understood 12 and possibly more counties plan to introduce staffless libraries. This move should be blocked and discouraged. Statistics for the staffless libraries in counties Offaly and Sligo show that the use of the library is down when no staff are present. Many vulnerable members of our community may be less willing to use a staffless library because of safety concerns. Having friendly and experienced staff in a library tends to create a non-threatening community space that all can enjoy without fear or anguish. Any savings that may be created will be diminished by the decreased use of public libraries and the loss of the innumerable hidden gains that staffed libraries provide. In a move towards less face-to-face contact in libraries, banks and other front-line services, it is understood the area office in Crumlin village will also be closing. This is a very distressing move for members of the community who rely on many of the services provided by Dublin City Council, with other area offices around the city closing also. Less face to face contact with service users will make this a more insular society and create even more social problems at a higher cost to the Exchequer.

I emphasise that what I say about water being brought from the River Shannon to Dublin is not based on any concern about the effect it would have on the River Shannon or about farmers seeking compensation for wayleaves across their land. In the past couple of days I have received correspondence from a Ms Emma Kennedy, suggesting the State is making what she considers to be a major mistake in commissioning the Dublin-River Shannon pipeline. Her thesis which is an elaborate is that Dublin aquifers and underground water sources would be quite adequate to serve the city of Dublin. The point she is making in her report which she has sent to some Members of the House and the Taoiseach is that the total expenditure on the River Shannon-Dublin pipe system would in of the order of €1.2 billion. Her thesis is that there is plenty of subterranean water and plenty of sources in Dublin to make the pipeline redundant and to service Dublin's projected needs for water much closer to the city. As far as she is concerned, the data on which the River Shannon-Dublin water project were decided are faulty and the analysis underlying it is faulty also. I am fully in favour of getting ahead with infrastructure if it is the right option. However, the Houses have not debated whether this thesis of there being plenty of water available in the Dublin region through using different technology to extract it from the earth has been adequately examined. Will the Leader ask the Minister with responsibility for this matter to make himself available to discuss it with the House. That is not the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, but the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, because responsibility for the water issue was given to his Department. It is a huge piece of infrastructure which will cost €1.2 billion. If it has to be done, I am fully in favour of it. However, if there is a significantly cheaper alternative, somebody in this or the other House should raise the issue of whether we are making a mistake, bearing in mind the information that has been furnished to Members of this House. Will the Leader ask the Minister, Deputy Simon Coveney, to come to the House to brief us on whether it is the case that the River Shannon-Dublin water main idea has been fully considered in the light of alternatives, including aquifers closer to the city of Dublin?

Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt go bhfuil réiteach gearr-thréimhseach sroichte ar an ngéarchéim a bhaineann leis an tseirbhís farantóireachta go hInis Mór. I recognise that there has been a temporary reprieve in the Inis Mór ferry service scenario, but there really needs to be a knuckling down to make sure it is settled on a longer term basis.

I concur with the sentiments of Senator Catherine Ardagh on staffless libraries. We had a presentation in the AV room on the issue two weeks ago. I concur completely with the Senator that we do need a debate and I think I called for it at the time on the role of library services and how they are going to be impacted on by the staffless library system.

I cautiously welcome the announcement made by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, on bin charges. This House can take credit for bin charges being kicked to touch for six months, owing to issues we raised in a number of debates with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney. I do not believe, however, that kicking it to touch for six months is the best scenario. Going into the summer period, we will have issues with bags and dumping, particularly in tourist areas where bags cannot be bought and tourists will not know where to dispose of their refuse. There are also still issues in some areas with monopoly services being run by some companies.

There is a lack of consistency in pricing policy throughout the country. Prices are different in almost every constituency to which one travels. Sinn Féin is in favour of going back to local authority delivery of service. However, it would be a good idea for this House to have another debate on bin charges with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, as opposed to waiting another six months to see how this issue can be resolved, and to bring forward positive proposals.

At this time of year, many of us will go to Christmas parties and restaurants, but I have been contacted by a number of workers in the hospitality sector, particularly in Galway, who are being abused within that sector. I am hearing about cases of verbal abuse and payment and tips being withheld. I am also hearing about cases of sexual harassment and sexual abuse that go unreported. People are afraid to report them in case they get sacked. Those in temporary employment arrangements certainly find it difficult to do so. There are two sides to the hospitality sector. It is positive to see the improvements in the sector, but we need to examine the related workers' rights issues. It would be useful to have a debate on the abuse of workers in the hospitality sector in which we could examine all of the issues. I would look to raise more such issues during the debate.