public function &createItem($name, $text, $url = '')
    {
        $menu_item = new MenuItem();

        $menu_item->setName($name);
        $menu_item->setText($text);

        if ($url) {
            $menu_item->setUrl($url);
        }

        $this->items[$name] = $menu_item;

        return $this->items[$name];
    }