John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

I join with others who have thanked the Cathaoirleach for the way he has conducted proceedings during the session and I include the Leas-Chathaoirleach in those thanks for his fair and balanced conduct of the House and his defence of Members whenever such was required. I congratulate the Clerk and the staff of the Seanad office who work very hard and whose work is generally unrecognised. It is only when one is in Opposition that their work on amendments and so on is appreciated. I have observed before that the burden on the Clerk is increasing all the time with additional responsibilities, including those relating to the Referendum Commission, and this must be reviewed soon. I join with Senator Hayes in thanking the staff of the Houses, including the ushers and others who have looked after us so well. I also thank the press, particularly Mr. Jimmy Walsh for his coverage in The Irish Times.

I wish to raise a matter that surfaced yesterday, namely, the findings of the European Commission on the environmental record of this country and that certain cases are being taken at the European Court of Justice. I noted the response of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, yesterday afternoon. As a regular visitor to County Mayo, I have observed that overgrazing is a serious issue and there has been significant environmental degradation of the hills of that county. It is a welcome development that this degradation is being reduced but one must observe that the problem is a consequence of the imperative imposed by EU policy to overgraze. Payment was made on a headage basis so more sheep on the hills meant more money. The EU needs to look to its own record as the genesis of much of the environmental damage that was caused in the west of Ireland, which is not to say there were not also culpable individuals.

During the discussion of water safety in this House last week, I raised the matter of the implications of jet ski usage. There is an environmental aspect to this, particularly in the case of the shallow lakes of the midlands where I believe serious damage is being done to some of the aquatic life. I would like the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to discuss these issues in this House in the autumn and to indicate the Government's plan and its future strategy on these issues and on illegal dumping.