Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy O'Dowd for putting forward a motion on this important issue. I acknowledge the presence of the Minister of State, Deputy Sargent. I was concerned last week when we were debating the plans for co-located hospitals that the Green Party Members had forgotten the location of the Parliament. I am glad to see they have rediscovered it at least on this issue. I take this opportunity to congratulate the Minister, Deputy Gormley, on his new role. Notwithstanding the comments I will be obliged to make later, I have greats hopes for him as Minister.

My constituency of Dublin West is being ravaged by poor planning and the indifference of a series of Fianna Fáil Ministers for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The resulting problems include unsustainable development and massive sprawl, both exacerbated by car dependency. We have seen the development of housing without any associated facilities, including schools, open spaces, parks and playgrounds. Public open space is held back for years by developers, while housing developments go unfinished. Cases regarding half-built apartment blocks can take years to resolve. There is a ridiculous situation in terms of enforcement and planning retention whereby people can build whatever they like and simply apply for retention. In addition, there is a cumbersome taking in charge process and an unregulated property management sector.

I hope the Minister's appointment represents a clean break from Fianna Fáil policies. He is in the tent now. It remains to be seen whether that is the tent of Government or merely the Galway races tent. I warn the Minister that we expect results on these issues. If he fails, either through his own weaknesses or because he is unable to overcome his coalition colleagues, he should be warned that we are here and willing to replace him.

I would like to introduce the House to the Ghost of Deputy Gormley Past in order to remind him of some of the comments he has made on this issue. Last February he stated the planning case against the incinerator was unanswerable, the site selection process flawed, the traffic impact disastrous and, most importantly, that there was no need for this massive facility. He noted that there had been instances where An Bord Pleanála inspectors had recommended against projects on planning grounds, only to have the recommendation overturned by the board on the basis of Government policy. Is that still Government policy? In April he told the Taoiseach that Green Party policy was different, with a zero waste strategy which did not allow incineration. Now that he is Minister, is that Government policy?

Referring to Deputy Chris Andrews, the Minister stated: "These candidates have done absolutely nothing to reverse the Government policy which has landed the people of Dublin South-East with the proposed incinerator, but they will take the opportunity afforded by the oral hearing to paint themselves as the project's greatest opponents." Does he now fall into that category? Did he just use the hearing as an opportunity to practise the glib and oily art of speaking and purposing not or was his contribution genuine?

I remind the Minister of his campaign launch on 1 March, entitled: "Get Fianna Fáil and the PDs out", when he stated: "Bertie Ahern can't quite decide whether he's St. Paul or St. Augustine. Last year we had his Pauline conversion to socialism, but when it comes to the environment it's a case of 'make me green, but not yet Lord'." I do not think the Taoiseach has ever undergone any conversions. The question we ask tonight is whether the Minister has undergone a conversion. Does he remain the campaigner and politician of principle he used to be or has he been assimilated and subsumed into Fianna Fáil? The answer will come tomorrow night at 8.30 p.m. when he casts his vote on the motion.

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