Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I, too, support the motion by Deputy O'Dea. It is a very important motion and especially for the Deputy's area. I am astounded that the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, has been shoved in here on his own with just one Fine Gael backbencher. They have a good few representatives in that area, including a Deputy who was a very senior Minister until he retired, and I wish him well in that. None of them is here this evening to listen to the people's complaints and concerns.

Some 5,000 objections were lodged with the EPA on this issue. Not five, not 50, not 500. It was 5,000. A fine of €4,000 is not enough. The objections were all ignored blatantly. It is like rubbing a fat sow's behind as they thicken their egos. This was debated in this House and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government at the time, Deputy Kelly, my erstwhile colleague from Tipperary, did nothing about it. There are also question marks about the ownership of this company and the connections that some Members of the House may have to it. This stinks to high heaven and not only because of the smell of the tyres. The whole reason for it stinks. I support the small and struggling businesses who are trying every day. I support the young people in the schools and all their initiatives. I support Tipperary County Council in its recent initiative to track down people who litter and leave waste. Big is not necessarily wonderful. How many times are we going to have to learn this in this country?

We struggle, and we squeeze the small people. The Government wants to get rid of the bingo cards too when some people just want to play bingo. This is not like the big gamblers who go to the Galway tent. I do not know if the Minister of State was ever in that tent, but I was not and I do not want to be in it either. It appears that the ordinary people do not matter. It is a case of to hell or to Connacht with them. Take every piece of decency they have and take every social outlet they have and make them pay up or shut up. It is like Marie Antoinette's "let them eat cake". It is pure banana politics. This issue is too dangerous and too serious.

Irish Cement and Roadstone plc have not had a good record around issues of dumping, blackguarding communities, forcing out small, decent, family-run businesses such as Readymix and so on, and wiping them off the face of the earth.

I have attended the AGM of Irish Cement and Roadstone plc a number of times. It has left a trail of devastation all over the world - in America, for a family in Wexford, everywhere. It is too big to be taught. This Government loves big business, but it will stand on small people and put them under heel like a case of "Croppies lie down". That is what is wrong with this Government.

I support Deputy O'Dea's motion. I wonder what the Fine Gael Deputies will do when it comes to the vote. What will they do in the vote on bingo? It is obvious that, when it comes to big people, the Government loves them. When it comes to small people, though, it is a case of to hell or to Connacht like dirt on the soles of their shoes. That is not acceptable.

There are too many issues, for example, the 5,000 complaints. That is unbelievable. This is dangerous. We have changed legislation to allow the EPA and An Bord Pleanála to issue planning permission that moves away from the objectives, which is dangerous, and this is an example of that. The former Minister, Deputy Kelly, did nothing about it even though he was asked to several times. The Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and I know what tyres are. We have seen bonfires. Galway has won the All-Ireland a few times. Galway people like an old bonfire. We cannot light bonfires any more, but we know the smelch of dirt and filth involved.

I am unhappy with and concerned about this situation. I will hand over to Deputy Michael Healy-Rae.

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