Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I mean no disrespect to the Minister of State, but we were expecting this matter to be dealt with by the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW. I understand that the mountain is a designated special area of conservation, but there is a decision to be made. Are we going to sit and watch a bridge collapse - in fairness, bridges are neither the portfolio nor the responsibility of the Minister of State - if there is further rain and possibly more bog coming down the mountain with it? Are we going to stand by while, in the words of Deputy Harkin, the species known as people lose their lives? Rapid action needs to be taken on this issue.

Anyone listening to these proceedings who is familiar with the situation knows that the designation and the habitats directive and all that has damn all to do with this issue. This problem involves part of a bog sliding down a mountain onto people's land and around houses. People are frightened and roads have been destroyed. A large section of the bog could come down if the bridge in question, which was built hundreds of years ago - in fairness, it has held out mightily - fails. If it goes, we will be in trouble. Regardless of when the site was designated or whatever else was done with it, we must not have people with pieces of paper stating that an environmental impact assessment or another appropriate assessment is needed. This is an emergency for the people of the area and we need to begin working on it rapidly. A working group needs to be put together immediately to find solutions for the people of the area.

See this speech in context