Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

At what cost to human life though? At what risk to human life? That is the problem. We might find a solution, but how many deaths will occur in the meantime? What is the risk of a death on the road compared to a risk to a pearl mussel? If a good method statement is put in, we will get on with it but it seems that what the Department is telling us is that it wants no risk to the pearl mussel, no matter what happens in terms of unusual rain events and whatever, compared to a high risk every day on that road to human beings. The Department needs to have an index of risk to human beings versus an index of risk to the habitat, with some balance between the two. If Europe wants to be stupid, we should just go ahead and build the road and let them come after us. When the road is built and there is no damage done and it is better than the first one, it will have no case against the Department. We need to have a bit of courage and get on with the job. I am not talking about doing that without preparation, planning and a reasonable approach to building the road. This planning permission was granted three years ago-----