James Bannon (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House to debate the Government's plan on greenhouse gas emissions? The Government could be heavily fined because it has not provided clarity and detail on how it proposes to make up the 30 million tonnes shortfall in reaching the Kyoto commitments for the years 2008 to 2012. The Commission intends to reject the Government's plan. This issue must be debated in this House. The Minister has told us time and again that it is intended to purchase credits and so forth but nothing is happening. Ireland will be the laughing stock of Europe. It is one of the countries named in an EU report on greenhouse gas emissions and our negligence in this area is highlighted.

I support Senator Brian Hayes's call for a debate on the Barr report. The report was published last July. The tribunal heard from 169 witnesses and sat for 208 days. We must learn from the mistakes of the Abbeylara shooting. The delay in debating this report is having a devastating effect on the local community in County Longford. It is important that an urgent debate is held on the matter. Hardly a week passes without me calling for this debate. This issue is disturbing for the Carthy family, the neighbourhood in Abbeylara and people generally.

We show great disrespect for reports that are prepared at huge cost to the State. It is important that we show respect for the people who contributed to and who compiled the Barr report. Many of the issues raised in the report must be addressed to ensure that events such as occurred in Abbeylara never happen again.