Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

It is a great pity that the Deputy does not have regard to the substantial fines that could be imposed on the State for failing to comply with European Union regulations with regard to the bogs the Deputy addresses. The Air Corps and Garda Síochána have an obligation to uphold the law of the State. If the law of the State was being complied with, there would be no reason for any expenditure of this nature to be incurred. This is a particularly difficult and protracted dispute that has arisen. I presume the Deputy has some familiarity with it and the possible liability to the State and taxpayers if the State does not do what is required to uphold a law that has been in place for some years and which the State has failed to implement. I regret the necessity to spend any resources in this area but if resources are being spent, it is because there are individuals who are intent on continuing to break the law, have not agreed to implement reasonable proposals to resolve the issue and appear to be intent not merely on maintaining the dispute but continuing to break the law.

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