James Breen (Clare, Independent)

Never have I seen a situation where so many in the country are in open revolt against a sitting Government, where Ministers are in constant battles against those working under them, and despite the availability of vast financial resources, where the constant squandering of public money has resulted in wide scale dissatisfaction among the grass-roots supporters of even the Government parties. Whether at national, provincial or county level, the result is the same. This Government has lost the support of the people and of the Acting Chairman, Deputy Glennon, and his 15 backbenchers.

The same theme is to be found consistently across every Department, that is, unfortunately, ineptitude and failure. County Clare can give a snapshot of the national picture in almost every department. Ennis General Hospital has gone from threats of being reduced to an accident and emergency unit with no night cover to a promise of €20 million investment at some unannounced date. No one is sure of the current status of the hospital, not even the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

This week has seen the release of statistics showing the latest increase in drug use and associated crime, yet in County Clare, despite promises of the Minister, Deputy McDowell, of increased Garda numbers, the Garda drug unit is staffed by two permanent and one temporary member to cover the entire county.

One of the biggest shames visited on County Clare in recent times has been the installation and attempted installation of telecommunications masts at Ard na Crusha, Ballynacally, Kilkee, Tober and Ennis. Next Saturday will see a large protest against the proposed mast at the ESB site on the Rocky Road in Ennis. An Bord Pleanála gave permission for the mast, saying that not to do so would be in contravention on Government national policy on telecommunications.

The plight of Gama workers in Ennis, and nationally, might never have been rectified but for my Independent colleague, Deputy Joe Higgins taking up their fight initially. Worse still has been the abuse of labour rights of Polish workers by the ESB at Moneypoint in County Clare.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, holds a special place in the hearts of the people of County Clare. He has consistently deferred the issue of boundary extension application by Limerick County Council when he should have issued a strong and resounding "No". He has persistently stalled and prevented the development of sewerage schemes at Carrickaholt, Labasheeda, Kilkee, Mullach, Quilty and Feakle and he has single-handedly increased the profit of national water companies because the water quality to Ennis has been below the safe human consumption level for years.

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