Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Tréaslaím leis An Comhaontas Glas as an Bille seo a chur os ár gcomhair, agus fáiltím roimhe, mar dá ndéarfainn go raibh muid ag plé Bille um thorann, cheapfadh a lán daoine go raibh mé ag magadh. Thuigfeadh daoine ar gá dóibh cur suas le torann de shíor cén gá atá lena leithéid de Bhille, agus tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil an Rialtas tar éis glacadh leis. Tá súil agam nach dtarlóidh an rud a tharla le Billí eile. Nuair atá an Dara Céim críochnaithe acu, suíonn siad ansin go deo. Tá súil agam go bhfuil an Rialtas sásta cur leis an Bhille seo agus é a chur isteach sa choiste, agus go dtiocfaidh sé ar ais ionas go mbeidh muid in ann déileáil leis ina iomláine chun saol níos fearr a thabhairt dóibh siúd atá ag fulaingt mar gheall ar thorann leanúnach lasmuigh dá dtithe.

The types of noise pollution have been mentioned by others. Noise pollution affects people's quality of life. If their quality of life is affected, often their health is affected. This is especially true among those, such as shift workers mentioned earlier, who sleep during the day. We cannot change society and the level of noise during the daytime will probably be greater, but people living next to a building site are entitled to some notice when there is to be two or three weeks of pile-driving so those who must sleep during the day can make alternative arrangements. People accept that pile-driving or the breaking of builders' rubble must occur, but they should be entitled to know when it will happen and when their sleep will be disturbed. In my area there is a CIE running yard where they need to keep trains running at night to check they work properly. Some of this work occurs within 100 yd. of houses and the people living there often hear the trains outside the yard, which means there are no noise abatement measures being taken.

There needs to be a change in attitudes within society, involving a return to how it was previously, where people take due consideration of their neighbours and understand that noise affects people. The building standards need to be improved to increase house insulation, which reduces noise between apartments or houses. That can also be economically beneficial because then one need not heat the home as much. If one increases building standards on insulation between houses and between apartments, there is a cost factor and a benefit.

While common courtesy remains, for example one does not run a washing machine on a dividing wall all night and all day, there is a significant level of noise pollution which did not exist 20 years ago. In any pub in this city there is background music and late at night music blares so much that one is forced to go elsewhere. In shopping centres, with lifts and the like, noise levels are constant.

If one is lucky enough to retreat to a country hideaway, one hears the tranquility. We should be able to experience such tranquility in this city, in other cities and in rural towns. We should not have to put up with constant noise, whether from the street or from neighbours.

In particular, I was glad the issue of car and house alarms is addressed in the Bill. However, my one concern on the issue of house alarms in that there is a danger in providing for a centralised list in the local authority. Maybe the centralised list should be with the Garda. It would be more secure. That is only a small matter. If this Bill is referred to committee, we can ensure it is strengthened and can be applied properly, and that issues such as alarms, somebody who runs a small car business outside their house revving up cars morning, noon and night, or dogs barking can be addressed.

The Bill is a small step that can be taken by this House to ensure people's quality of life is enhanced rather than reduced, as at present, time and again because of constant noise. People are suffering sleep deprivation because of this constant noise and, as I stated, that can affect people's health. If it does so, it will cost the State more money. Therefore, there are benefits for the State and for householders in taking the practical steps I and others mentioned. I wish this Bill well and I hope we will see it complete all Stages in this House quite quickly.

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