John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am overwhelmed and extremely grateful for the extensive cross-party support we have received this evening on this motion on this important issue. It is stirring and heartening that we can agree on matters of such national importance for all our citizens. I thank all colleagues for their contributions and support. I say to the EPA that we in this House will not relent until we have satisfaction, resolution and solutions to the issues we have raised this evening. We are not just going through the motions. We will stick with this until we have a result and resolution for the families who trust us and have asked us to help.

I am extremely grateful to the Minister, Deputy Hogan, for his courteous, comprehensive and considered contribution. He is open-minded. I am glad he confirmed an ongoing investigation is taking place into the situation in Portlaoise regarding Enva, and that he has asked the EPA for a report on the matter. He has also confirmed he is open to accepting contributions and submissions from Oireachtas Members and others who may have evidence or data to submit. The report and investigation will be all the more thorough, comprehensive and credible if it accepts independent and verifiable scientific data. Our case is not based on frivolous grounds but substantive data.

I take exception to one remark with regard to the EPA to which the Minister referred. It was suggested I go to the police if I have a problem. I do have a problem, but with regard to environment and pollution, the EPA is the police. I have gone to the police who have turned a blind eye. It is a good job the Garda does not police in the same way as the EPA does. If the Garda was to enforce regulations in the same way as the EPA, it would notify everyone in advance where the speeding or drink-driving inspection roadblock would be, would only carry out inspections once a year on a particular stretch of road; and when one was stopped, one would be asked whether one was drinking or speeding, to which one would answer one did not believe so, and one would be told that is grand and whatever one thinks oneself. This is how the EPA conducts regulation, inspection and monitoring. Self-regulation is not regulation.

We are foursquare behind the climate change legislation which the Government committed to introducing this year. Climate change starts here. We cannot save the planet unless we get our own house in order. Dealing with climate change starts when we clean up our own act. I am looking forward to further engagement with the Minister on this issue and with the EPA. This saga continues.