Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

This legislation is about the Green Party's own political survival. It is a last-ditch attempt to achieve something in a Government in which the Greens have achieved little. To achieve this trophy prize, the Minister will divide communities and his proposals will have an effect on areas he will claim was never his intention. People will lose their livelihoods because of this legislation. The Minister took no account of this possibility when drafting the legislation.

This Bill has nothing to do with the Green Party's principles because it was never in the original programme for Government. It was only when a gun was effectively put to Fianna Fáil's head was that this legislation was included in the revised programme for Government. It is simply an attempt to save a Green Party seat or two at the next election.

The Minister consulted none of the stakeholders when drawing up the legislation. It has economic consequences for communities and has done nothing to bring them on board.

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