Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

The Deputy should stop in my constituency on his way to Dublin or any part of his own constituency and he will meet people who are at a loss to know how to progress this issue.

I urge the Minister to re-examine this area. He is not giving leadership. There is potential in this area. The world needs it, our country needs it and generations after us need alternatives. We must stand back and look at the type of environment we are passing on to future generations.

I urge the Minister to examine our proposals. They are well thought out and genuine. The Deputies involved, particularly Deputies Naughten, Durkan and many others, have put hours of research into this Bill. For the sake of the country and rural Ireland, I ask the Minister to give serious consideration to the proposals before him.

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