Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I wish to amend the Order of Business. Following the conclusion of No. 2 on the Order Paper, namely, the Second Stage debate on the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill, I seek an emergency debate for one hour. I want the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, who will be present in the House until 6.30 p.m., to remain in the House for an additional hour. I refer to the barriers to proper development put in place by his Department. I also want to put on record that a small cabal of maverick civil servants within his Department are preventing the provision of, as well as investment and job opportunities in, leisure facilities in the west of Ireland. This has been evident in Lough Key forest park and many other projects in the west. This small group in his Department are now out of control and its actions run directly counter to Government policy. Finally, I have raised this matter on the Order of Business on numerous occasions, as well as on Adjournment debates. A full and frank debate is now required on the goings-on within this Department. The Minister is directly responsible for failing to stop this small group of misguided public officials.