Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

If I have not managed to say what I want within two minutes, I hope the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will indulge me a little, as he did the previous speakers. Members have digressed considerably from the amendments.

As for Deputy Cowley's comments, I have never denied that some local people are concerned about this project. I have accepted this and have done everything possible to try to meet such concerns. Although the Deputy continually berates me for not listening or not hearing what people say, I listen carefully. People told me they had concerns regarding the pipeline running so close to their houses and wanted those concerns addressed. Instead of taking action myself, I asked an independent body to examine the issue. It was to listen to the local people and to record their views carefully. When that was complete, it was to use its expertise to tell me whether the concerns and fears were justified. I set no parameters in this respect. If the pipeline was a problem, it would be so considered and I stated that I wanted to know whether this was the case.

The independent body spent its time listening to the people. As proof, a number of people raised the issue of the type of soil through which the pipeline would go. The independent group informed me that this issue should be considered and offered to so do, although it was not included in its terms of reference. I agreed and told it to go ahead. As a result, recommendations were made in this regard. However, I stand accused of not listening.

Hence, concerns existed and were expressed. I am uncertain whether Deputy Cowley lives in a different world. When the National Oil Reserves Agency Bill 2006 was debated in this House last week, a colleague told me he overheard a conversation involving a man on a mobile phone on Grafton Street last Tuesday or Wednesday. My colleague heard mention of the word Rossport and listened to the rest of the conversation, which basically involved the man telling the other person to be ready to go down on Friday because a riot would take place. I have no reason to doubt the honesty of the Deputy who told me this story.

See this speech in context