Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I want to talk about the environment and the spectre that is haunting the economic and financial plans of every advanced country, namely, the consequence of climate change. For all the attention this budget gives to it one would think our country has some natural exemption and that the Crossmolina floods did not happen. St. Patrick banished the snakes and the Minister, Deputy Cowen, has banished global warming as if it does not exist.

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