Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

I ask the Minister to state in his closing remarks that if this Bill is passed he will have no issues to deal with in regard to animal welfare other than the couple of very minor ones in the programme for Government. The people do not believe there are no other issues. I am trying to explain to them that this Bill is Green Party policy. I want Deputy Gormley, in his capacity as Minister, to explain that there are no other issues. Deputy Johnny Brady outlined his very stark position on this and I agreed with him. The backbenchers of Fianna Fáil certainly agree.

Confidence and reassurance need to be given, particularly to gun clubs, which seem to be of the view that they will be targeted. The confusion is not lessened by some of the Minister's colleagues who differentiate between certain types of shooting and sports activities in their statements. That the Minister make the strongest possible statement on other pursuits is essential.

This is a difficult issue and has become very political. It is right that it has become a political issue. My seat will be one of the most prized by the Opposition parties at the next general election. This must also be acknowledged.

I acknowledge the remarks of Deputy McEntee, who said this is a difficult issue for us. He will receive great praise from the people of his constituency for his fight on this issue. He has been reasonable to his Government colleagues and this favour will certainly be returned if the Deputy is in a difficult position if his party is ever in Government.

The Minister's Department is causing many problems in Meath-East over one-off housing applications. I refer to its making submissions on one-off housing applications inside and far away from the Newgrange buffer zone. This is generating great mistrust. I do not know what business the Minister's officials have making submissions on the planning applications of young couples. It is terrible that the Department spends time on this. There is no national policy interest whatsoever in this regard.

When I talk to the people of my constituency, it is not just the issues of the Ward Union Hunt that arise. The Minister must understand that. People ask why he objected to their planning permission applications and makes submissions thereon. The Department is doing so in his name. I ask that it cease doing so because it cannot be legal.

I have always complimented the Minister on his progressive action on zoning and local area plans and I fully endorse and support what he is doing this week through the planning investigations. I come from an area where this activity could not but be supported because of the damage done through bad zoning. However, my problem is with the response to one-off planning applications whose acceptance would keep a community together and give young people a chance to build their own home at a lower cost. If accepted, the couples would not have to go on the council's list or live in certain areas where the facilities are not as good. They would have the opportunity to live in their own communities. The Minister is making it difficult for himself, the Government and me as a Member. I ask the Department to stop making submissions on the applications to which I refer.

This legislation is not right and the Oireachtas should not be targeting individual organisations or groups. I welcome the provision that the Minister is including in the legislation that regularises licensing for shooting game and wildlife. That may give some reassurance to the gun clubs although many of the constituents I spoke to on it today were not convinced.

I ask the Minister to confirm in his closing remarks that there is nothing else he wants to target. He has made such a statement time and again but we badly need to hear one once more.

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