Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I support Senator Fitzgerald's call for a debate on environmental matters, with specific reference to the toxic dump at Haulbowline and others in the State. I called some months ago for a debate on legacy landfills. The Government and the State face many environmental and financial challenges because of those dumps. There are EU and domestic obligations on the Government to deal with landfills in a proper, efficient and professional manner. Our citizens depend on the Government and the professionalism of local authorities and Departments to protect their fundamental rights, including their environmental rights, and the environment in which they live. It is important the House debates the matter.

This is not an isolated incident. For example, Senator Kelly has raised concerns about Silvermines in County Tipperary. In my constituency, Irish Tanners Limited has a toxic landfill only 100 metres from the intake for the Waterford city water supply. A blind eye has been turned to this matter for many years both by the local authority and by the Department. The Haulbowline, Silvermines and Irish Tanners sites as well as many other legacy landfills need the urgent attention of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I am not taking a cheap shot at him. We want to help him tackle these challenges because they are legacy issues spanning many generations.