Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

From what I heard, the debate has been useful and has provided a good basis for further debate on Committee Stage. Last night and tonight, there seems to have been a fair level of consensus that while there are rules and regulations, there is need for further movement in this regard.

I accept we all get complaints about interference with quality of life and people's peace, quiet and enjoyment. It is difficult to come up with a suggestion that will solve all problems. There can be some remedy for persistent and constant noise but it is difficult to deal with occasional noise. There has been a good degree of consensus on what needs to be done.

It is important to state there is much legislation in place and the existing provisions have been effective to a certain extent over the years in resolving many, but not all, the noise issues for individuals and local authorities. The Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, outlined the existing provisions — the 1994 noise regulations, section 107 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 and the new regulations introduced earlier this year by the Minister, Deputy Roche. The latter regulations will also help to prevent and alleviate environmental noise which has been a natural result of our increasingly busy society and economy over the past number of years. The regulations have the potential to improve the situation for many people and should be recognised as a significant step forward in combatting the accumulation of noise from the day to day use of major infrastructure and other sources.

No doubt as the economy has advanced, there is a greater effort to get road works and the like done at night. That is fine in theory in that it helps to keep traffic moving, but it can be a nuisance to people who live nearby. We must always think of the particular problem caused to the individual.

The initiative taken earlier this year is a bold departure in environmental protection. It is, hopefully, probably only a first step in an EU environmental noise code which will develop over the coming period.

Last night Deputy Healy raised the issue of a local authority tenant in his constituency who is affected by noise being made by a neighbouring tenant. Certainly, nobody should have to put up with that. That person's local authority should be able to deal comprehensively with the matter, if not under noise legislation then certainly under legislation on housing and antisocial behaviour. Yesterday, on behalf of the Government, the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, outlined that the proposed provisions in the Bill are a bit premature, pending further consideration of the underlying issues and taking into account the existing legislation. At the same time, however, we recognise that, as with all areas of environmental protection, we cannot stand still on noise pollution and must continually strive to keep pace with ever-changing pressures. What might have been acceptable to people ten or 20 years ago is no longer so. The pressures of modern life mean there is extra noise, which is an important quality of life issue for everybody, particularly in urban areas.

The Government is not opposing this reading of the Noise Bill, as tabled by the Green Party. I look forward to further debate on the issues on Committee Stage. I do not mean that people from rural areas do not understand the issue, but people from urban areas will be more familiar with it, whether it concerns a barking dog or a central heating boiler.

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