Martin Brady (Dublin North East, Fianna Fail)

We support the Green Party on this Bill. It does not just say a particular road or railway should not be built because this will upset people. This Bill is positive and we support it.

The Bill will give local authorities significant powers to address the environmental issue of noise pollution. However, they will tell us they do not have the resources. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has indicated there is no problem with funding. Local authorities have received more funding than ever before from the Minister and could not even fully spend their funds last year. The finger must point at them and we must ask what they are doing on the issue. Managers of local authorities should be called before the Joint Committee on the Environment and Local Government to establish what they are doing, what they intend to do and the procedures they have in place to deal with noise pollution, which is an issue of concern to many.

I apologise for going over my time and thank the Chair for the opportunity to contribute. Again, I congratulate the Green Party. We have no problem with this Bill.

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