Seanad debates
Wednesday, 5 February 2003
Protection of the Environment Bill 2003: Second Stage (Resumed).
The Minister has decided to give the power to the executives to make those changes. In the case of County Galway, three proposed landfill sites have been identified. The difficulty in regard to a number of them has been highlighted and they are being put through a very tortuous process. The reality is that there are far more acceptable and suitable sites available in County Galway but the consultants have made up their minds and will not even consider them. Senator Kitt will verify that the consultants were invited to view sites which were ideally suited. The public representatives begged the management and the consultants to look at those sites but they would not do so as they had made up their minds. That is the very attitude emanating from the Minister when he says, "Get tough, stay tough." That is a very wrong attitude to any public utility, public policy or public representative at national level. It is that bed on which the Minister will have to lie and accept the responsibility.
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