Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I support what Senator Brian Hayes has said regarding the jailing of five people from Mayo. As a large corporation, Shell has responsibilities other than its own corporate image. It should engage in talks regarding this project, which is very important to the west of Ireland. I fully support it, having met both sides in the argument.

The debate on Sellafield has become more worrying with the report that there was an undetected leak at the plant for nine months. It started last July and was not discovered until April this year. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, has described the skills of management there as worthy of Homer Simpson, which is not fair to that character. I hope the Minister's efforts to meet representatives of the British Government will succeed. I know from Senator Brady that the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is going to Sellafield in the autumn. I very much welcome that, but it is important the issue be pursued by the Minister. I am sure he has the support of this House. The incompetence of BNFL must be exposed, and in future it must not conceal information about leaks in the manner seen hitherto.