Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is critical in terms of how we live our lives in this country that there should be a Minister for the environment. Can the Tánaiste tell us who is the Minister for the environment? Could the word "environment" be reinstated in the title of the Department? Would that require legislation? It is absolutely important that we are clear on this. It is very good to have a Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government but we actually need a Minister for the environment.

See this speech in context