Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yes. Is the Department not concerned about the wide use of spraying of pesticides? It is taking place widely and some local authorities have told the committee they do it because of the lack of alternatives. Is it not something on which the Department should be taking a lead and recommending they move away from pesticides? If someone does not take a lead on this, nothing is going to change. We have seen some of the responses from local authorities, some of which have said they are going to keep using pesticides while others have said they have tried different stuff. It worries me the Department is not recommending that local authorities use products like Foamstream or whatever else is available. Is that something on which the Department could take a lead?