Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Hoctor, and I am glad the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Browne, is still in the House. I am sorry the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, is not here to respond personally to what I regard as one of the most important issues I have raised on behalf of my constituency since I became a Member of this House 21 years ago.

On 13 December 2007, the European Court of Justice gave a judgment in a case taken by the Commission against Ireland under the birds directive. Among the findings in this judgment, which I read, was that we have an inadequate number and size of areas classified as special protection areas, contrary to Articles 4.1 and 4.2 of the birds directive. I read not only the legal judgment but the recitals of all the ongoing dialogue and the legal exchanges between Ireland and the European Commission since 1998.

In a panicked response to this judgment, the Government has begun a process of designating new areas. Last week, I spoke to the assistant director of the national parks and wildlife service. He told me areas such as Dublin Bay, Galway Bay and Cork Harbour are being examined. I wish the Government had started there because when the extent of what is proposed is seen it will cause such an outcry that it must be changed. The proposed designation of Wexford Harbour up to Enniscorthy, the home town of the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, is quite scandalous, taking in a huge swathe of south County Wexford.

No one has any difficulty with protecting bird species; we are all at one on the need to do this. The extent, however, of the designation laid out in the proposals under the directive will be to ruin Wexford. In the words of a senior public official in Wexford yesterday, it is the erection of an economic barrier around the town.

I will remind the Minister of State the activities that will require ministerial consent under this proposal. Among them is the harvesting of marine species, unless for personal use and not exceeding certain limits. This is in one of the most productive harvesting harbours in Ireland with a multi-million euro industry in mussel fisheries. Another activity is the construction or alteration of tracks, paths, roads, embankments, car parks or access routes. Among the areas designated as a bird sanctuary is the park-and-ride car park for Wexford town. Any activity that develops, operates or allows leisure or sporting facilities that might cause disturbance to the birds requires ministerial consent. Wexford Harbour is a leisure harbour attracting thousands of visitors. Any activity which destroys habitats means any building on the lands contiguous to Wexford will be banned. That also includes reclamation, infilling and dredging with the final, catch-all comment, "any other activity".

This proposal is wholly unacceptable and illogical and must be changed. As I speak, a public meeting in Wexford with 600 people attending is under way. That will be the thin end of the wedge of public reaction. This proposal puts in immediate jeopardy multi-million euro projects, including the expansion of the Wexford main drainage scheme to give a 45,000 population equivalent.

The Labour Party and others want the Lisbon treaty voted through in several months. However, this sort of cack-handed implementation of EU policy will destroy public confidence in the EU and public support for the Lisbon reform treaty. This must be addressed immediately. Otherwise, there will be a public outcry of resistance in Wexford to the economic sabotage to the future of our town.

I hope the Minister of State will bring to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government my strong feelings and those of the thousands in my county agitated by this proposal. I expect a speedy, sympathetic, realistic and logical response.

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