Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do not know whether we are dealing with unelected people in Brussels, and I know it may be hard to get through to them at times, but in the UK the massive problems are widely acknowledged, be it where people are moving out of town to build in new areas or the flooding of rivers throughout the UK. EU officials had to be escorted through parts of Cyprus by the police or army because of a row. I encourage Irish officials and the Minister to talk to the British and the people in Cyprus. They should talk to the countries having problems because stuff cannot continue to be rammed down a person's throat if other countries are having problems. I have spoken to people in Poland who are having massive problems. This is not why the habitats directive was introduced. It was to encourage and help different countries, but at present it is tormenting them. Will the Minister forge links with all these countries having problems to highlight the difficulties involved and drum a bit of common sense into unelected representatives in Europe?

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