David Norris (Independent)

I would hate to do that because I know the Minister is so sensitive about these issues. I noted that An Taisce has spoken about the possibility of the Bill diluting public participation in the planning process. This would be regrettable. Deputy Gilmore indicated that most delays stem from objections by the public, often involving the statutory bodies. This misses the focus slightly because there are so many other causes of delay, including dithering by the Government and the Railway Procurement Agency as a result of their continually chopping and changing. It is very sinister to see the same old forces, names and faces from inside the transport establishment coming out at the last minute with their reservations concerning the metro. I hope this thinking will be strenuously resisted. The same idiotic, half-baked, stupid, exploded arguments are now emerging again and I hope they will be given very short shrift. These arguments do not stem from An Taisce but from those within the transport establishment, as I call it.

There is also the question of delays caused by the High Court process. The initial local authority process is to cease and greater difficulty will be experienced by private individuals. This is a problem. There is also a difficulty in terms of the perception of the Bill. It is noticeable and has been noticed by the public that there is one significant exemption from the process, that is, the incinerator at Poolbeg. The Minister indicated this has nothing to do with lobbying but it looks that way to the average member of the public. The fact that an important infrastructural development in a sensitive constituency should be exempted has a negative appearance and leads to suspicions. I regret that this development has arisen because it looks like it involves picking and choosing and favouring powerful political interests.

The Minister stated engagingly that the new legislation will use the experience and competence of An Bord Pleanála. The public has had much experience of An Bord Pleanála but by no means all of it has been good. The board has not always shown itself to be competent. In this regard, let me return to the case of Standish Sawmills. An Bord Pleanála is granting a retention to this known abuser although it was fined a couple of thousand euro for poisoning fish with pollutants, as I was informed at the end of last week. I keep receiving correspondence from all over County Offaly on this matter. The sawmill's management is being rewarded by An Bord Pleanála. If the Minister is serious about such matters, why does he not appoint an inspector? The provision exists for this to be done. I have reservations about An Bord Pleanála precisely because of its track record.

The Minister stated he is interested in sustainable economic development of the country. I agree that we need this, in addition to ways to transport millions of people to school and work without their having to spend hours in their cars. I applaud the Minister's objective.

Has the Minister considered the experience of the Spanish regarding the metro? Legislation is required in this area. The Joint Committee on Transport was addressed by Professor Melis Maynar from Madrid, who indicated that, in Spain, there is no assumption of ownership if one digs below a certain depth. This could be considered.