Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to bring the Protection of the Environment Bill 2003 before the Seanad. An Agreed Programme for Government commits the Government to implementing an ambitious action programme across the environmental agenda. In a democratic society, legislation is the foundation for action in the interests of the common good, including for the protection and improvement of the environment. Legislation alone is not enough, but without a strong framework of rules and regulations we will not achieve the environmental quality to which we aspire and to which the Government is committed.