Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The one thing I ask Mr. Hayes is not to use court cases. I was not a Deputy in 2011 or 2012 but I knew about the habitats directive and the 15-km zone. I knew that the gate was left wide open if environmental impact assessment, screening and appropriate assessment were not implemented. I do not agree with such measures. I detest this stuff. However, the Department stated on its website that those measures had to be implemented. Mr. Hayes then says it was because of a court case. To put it very simply, the court case happened because the gate was not closed by the Department. If I was building a house in Galway right now - or ten or 11 years ago - I would have to carry out a screening exercise because of a river that is 40 miles away.

The Department has a ferocious amount of work to do to get the industry back. I have spoken to people from all parts of the industry and they throw their hands up in the air about this Department. It is sad, but it is true.