Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I congratulate the Minister of State on grabbing hold of this Bill and bringing it before the House and I congratulate the officials who helped him do so. The point I made earlier is one that frustrates me. It has nothing to do with the Minister of State but this Bill was passed by the Seanad in October 2000 and it seems wrong that it should take four years to return to the House. It is a good Bill. This is an island nation and it needs clean seas. The benefits we reap are such that we should not allow anything to interfere with them.

I accept Senator McHugh's point with regard to the Irish Sea and other forms of dumping which are not covered by this Bill. Let us keep our eye on the future and recognise that this legislation is only part of the story. The fish stocks in the Irish Sea are in danger as a result of Sellafield and we must do something about that too.