Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

When all was said and done a considerable amount of money was wasted. Making a protest is one thing but it went beyond that to a clash of interests between progress and protection of the environment. We have to be realistic in the future and assess what is likely to happen and plan accordingly before the project commences. If it proves impossible to plan a project in that fashion there is something wrong with how we plan it, conduct the EIS, cost the scheme or in the way information is provided to whose who may have a legitimate reason to object. Have any lessons been learned from this episode? Perhaps the Minister would indicate who was removed from office, who did not follow warnings, who did not take note of the possibilities and who did not protect the Exchequer by virtue of information which should have been available to them at that time?

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