John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Minister. The fact that this Bill is being introduced in the Seanad is in keeping with the tradition of Bills of this nature. The Environmental Protection Agency Bill 1992 was introduced here by the then Minister, Deputy Harney. I commend the Minister on the remarks he made this morning on radio when dealing with the Bill. A statement was made in the subsequent discussion that this was the first step but it is not. There has been successive legislation over the past 12 years, the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, Waste Management Acts, litter Bills and so on.

This generation has been responsible for a great deal of environmental degradation, deliberate and significant damage to the environment. We have many tribunals and inquiries into what happened ten or 15 years ago with regard to planning. One wonders what we will look back on in 20 years' time and say was wrong. I believe the next generation will blame us for the way we have mis-treated and damaged the environment, degraded our lakes, rivers and sensitive areas. It is time to call a halt.

There is a suggestion that we are dilatory in adopting European directives. There is substance to that, but it is notable that in this case we are dealing with a 1996 directive. By the standards of previous Administrations it is a reasonably rapid response for which we cannot be criticised.

Apart from the moral imperative with regard to protection of the environment, another aspect which is frequently lost sight of is the great economic imperative. We depend heavily on tourism and the promotion of clean air, water and the environment not just for tourism but for our agriculture and food industries. Even if we were not convinced on moral grounds, as we should be, there is a great economic imperative to get these matters right and ensure they are done properly.

In his remarks on 30 January the Minister spoke about the tough decisions that are necessary. He is correct in that. There are tough decisions to be made and it is unquestionably the case that the members of local authorities have not been prepared to make them. I say that as a member of a local authority, albeit one that the Minister will soon remove from that position. However, that is a debate for another day. Kildare County Council, of which I am a member, was faced with serious increases this year in bin charges. If we come back to the principle of the polluter pays, which I believe is an absolute, there is no choice in these matters.