Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The matter is a case of political leadership. As we saw on "RTÉ Investigates" last night, there are illegal quarries throughout the country, and there are threats and legal challenges. It seems business reigns above politics in this case. Who runs the country? In October, the Minister stated he was working with the Attorney General to address an issue. The Government has repeatedly chosen to deflect and deny, while the evidence shows increasing levels of respiratory illnesses and hospital admissions due to poor air quality. Air pollution causes 1,000 premature deaths per year in Ireland but legal challenges mean more than those lives. Why are the lives and health of people living in Enniscorthy less important to the Government than those of people living in cities? The Government is treating people in rural areas as second-class citizens. It is unacceptable that the Government is willing to dismiss relevant human rights obligations in this area, not least in respect of ensuring the right to health and the rights of a child. On the air quality issues relating to the quarries mentioned last night, there has been no enforcement from local authorities or action from the Government to address the issue. Instead, judicial reviews and legal quagmires have been allowed to undermine the rights of people to health and proper air quality.

It goes back to the fundamental question of whether the Government shows political leadership. It should ban it and deal with the consequences.

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