Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

It is appropriate that we have a Green Party Minister to deal with green algae in west Cork. The problem is that he is not dealing with it and that is my difficulty. I am very glad I do not have to tell him about Coolmaine and Inchydoney beaches because he knows them. However, if had visited them in the past year or two he would hardly have recognised them because of the problems there. I want to press him very strongly on this issue because serious public health issues are raised and much damage is being caused to the environment.

The tourism industry is also being badly damaged. Last weekend, people booked out of hotels in Clonakilty and the Minister knows the effort that town makes in the Tidy Towns and Entente Florale competitions. It is a disgrace that these issues have not been dealt with at official level. Apart from all of this, there is the matter of community use. My kids used to go to Coolmaine beach and I used to go swimming there with them. One can no longer go to Coolmaine beach during most of the summer. The local people are affected.

I want to press the Minister on two issues. The first is the management plan on the green algae, or "sea lettuce" as it is called. I understand expert groups are meeting and a major meeting is taking place today, whether by coincidence or otherwise. The second issue is to stop this occurring. There is no doubt that the lack of a treatment plant in Courtmacsherry, which has been on the cards for past six years, and the need to upgrade the Clonakilty and Rosscarbery facilities play a part. These issues are directly under the control of the Minister and they have been delayed repeatedly.

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