Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I agree with the last speaker with regard to the ESB. What the unions have done in Moneypoint is very welcome. Given the capital investment in Moneypoint which the ESB has promised, something must be done with regard to the environmental aspect of the station. For a long time in our area we have been putting up with the spewing out of sulphur dioxide. Nearly 50% of the entire national sulphur dioxide emissions are happening within the Shannon estuary region. For that reason, I welcome movement on this matter. I hope the ESB will progress to do something about the environmental standards there.

There is concern at the prospect of 11 more years of the Mahon tribunal. We are all aware that tribunal fatigue appears to have set it, which is understandable. The people will focus when a high point is reached by a tribunal. The terms of reference must be examined in the context of much trivial stuff which seems to emerge at the tribunal and long rambling pieces by lawyers which drag out the process. We must look at ways of reducing the time it takes tribunals to complete their business. The public would be extremely concerned if this process continued for another 11 years given the inherent costs involved and the many pressing priorities for finance throughout the country.