Mr. Noel Thomas:

I want to let the members know that the Kerry snail, as it is called, has emigrated because it is on the hills beside me. However, wind turbines are being constructed and they are being collected in bags and brought down to Deputy Healy-Rae in Kerry.

The question was about the national position. One of our recommendations relates to a national policy on the design and construction of infrastructure in designated sites. That might work to our advantage or to our disadvantage. If it was designed on the basis of the way they got the work done on the greenway in Mayo, I would be agreeable because it would work for others as well. However, it could work either way and we would not know until a policy was brought forward. If a policy was brought forward in that respect, it would want to be done fairly and with a good deal of thought put into it in terms of how it will affect the rural communities.

I come from a construction background and there is no doubt in my mind that all this work can be carried out without any damage to these snails, birds or whatever else. I have seen it done in the past. I have seen areas that have improved, not deteriorated, following construction work, so it can be done.