Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

As expected, I did not get a reply. I asked if the Taoiseach would initiate an investigation but he did not answer me. I ask him that question again. I do not have to remind him about the list of legal actions which are taking place on nitrates, sewage plants, waste at Tara Mines, wetlands in the Boyne estuary, ozone depleting substances and oil pollution. There is such an array of legal actions that I cannot imagine how the Taoiseach can sit there and say everything is fine. He must take responsibility for an issue about which people have given up complaining, not unlike the anti-social behaviour issue. If one lives in Ringsend, Sandymount or the south-east area, one will be faced with problems on a daily basis. Does the Taoiseach accept that and think it is fine? The reality is that unless the matter is investigated, he will be standing over more than €300 million of taxpayers' money being misspent in this case, and he will be standing over the environmental effects which are causing serious problems for people's quality of life.

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