Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)

I have five minutes to speak but it could be said in two words. I cannot see how this deal can stand up. On the day the by-election was called in County Meath my first visit was to a school on the border of Meath and Dublin. I did not know if it was in Meath or Dublin but there was a vote there so I visited. The matter of this prison was raised and I agreed to return after the election. I met people very conscious of doing things the right way in this country. This is not the 1980s or the 1990s, it is 2005 and every person in public life must stand up.

I do not agree with a new prison as we have enough. Spike Island should be opened up and many prisoners should be sent there. The Government looked for a prison, criteria were agreed and anyone interested in submitting an application had to do so before 23 February 2005. Some work was done after this and in early December a farm came to the notice of certain people. Over an eight day period the farm was purchased for a new prison.

Five or six years ago a superdump was proposed for County Meath. Four sites were identified and each was scrutinised to see which was the most suitable. Four lobby groups were set up, three were successful and one was not. The most suitable site was chosen and the dump was built. That did not happen in the case of the prison that is supposed to be built but should never be built. If people have their way it will never happen.

No environmental impact study was undertaken and no consideration was given to the roads leading to the site. It was bought for €30 million, which I do not mind but it will cost four times more to get to the door of the prison. Roads must be widened and school children must be protected in the event of a major breakout. We should not think that this will never happen again. A sewerage system must travel four and a half miles and there is no water on this site. Has anyone examined how this was purchased?

In 2005 the people of Ireland demand that everything is done by the book. There is no shame in going back on this decision. The people who spent time here and in Buswell's presenting their case today were not a lobby group. That it has become the main story of the day is a measure of the seriousness of it. These people are telling the truth and have not spent thousands of euro presenting their case. They ask that proper procedure in respect of prison location is followed. I ask the Government, including Ministers from both Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats, to reject the purchase of this land as a prison for the people of Ireland. The original criteria should be adhered to and this prison should be abandoned. That is all I have to say.

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