Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)

We must deal with waste, but there are sectors of waste with which we are not dealing at all. For example, bio-degradable waste is not being considered, which is a significant problem at landfills in terms of leechate and methane gas.

I was shocked to hear of a gaping hole in the EIS, namely, that it did not account for health risks. I am speaking as a commercial dairy farmer, of which there are few remaining. We have long been lectured by the Green Party on the potential risks of GM foods. The Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, was one of those lecturers. The concern regarding GM foods is chemical-resistant weeds, known as superweeds. The Minister's constituency is going to get the largest superweed in the history of the State in the form of the incinerator. That it will be the size of Croke Park is crazy.

On the Green Party's road to Damascus-style conversion or U-turn, the Minister does not believe that this is the right way to go. He did not believe it eight weeks ago. He must do whatever is politically expedient. To quote Groucho Marx, "Those are my principles, and if you don't like them, well, I've got others." Unfortunately, this seems to be the case here.

The site selection process bothers me greatly. Speaking as a rural Deputy from a rural county, if someone sought planning permission in an SAC or special protection area, the environmental section of the planning department would come down on him or her, as would the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, State agencies and other groups and organisations. In no way would he or she get permission, but here comes something the size of Croke Park that is being brought through the planning process like a baby.

The matter is being reviewed by the petitions committee of the European Parliament and some MEPs have been to Ireland to discuss it in recent days. The removal of local democracy has also been discussed. It is of concern that we are removing the democratically elected members of local authorities for the issue. We will destroy the niche market. Ireland produces the best foodstuffs anywhere in the world. We produce it from grass and the cereal products we feed to livestock. It can be marketed well, but we will sell out the niche market and the organic production market that is just starting up. The Minister of State, Deputy Sargent, has spoken passionately in this respect.

I will conclude with a reference to Alanis Morissette, a singer. I do not know whether she is of the Acting Chairman's vintage.

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