Joe O'Toole (Independent)

The committee did something unique. It published a fully agreed Bill, the Foreshore Licensing Bill, which it sent to the Minister, but nothing has happened. It was a classic example of where all parties and none had got behind the Government in support of its policy. There was nothing in the Bill that caused a difficulty for the Government. It dealt with a very important issue that was causing problems all over the place, namely, that space between high tide and low tide in offshore energy projects. I would like to ask the Minister why he did not accept the Bill which has been passed from one Department to another.

Another issue raised by Senator Coffey concerns an all-party report - supported by the Labour Party and the Green Party before Deputy Gormley became Minister - on electric cars. There was total support for the Green Party's policy. The report urged the Government to go further and offered it the full support of all groups represented on the committee. The leading person behind it was Deputy Coveney of Fine Gael.

Another Department has become involved in the geothermal energy issue, that of the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resource, Deputy Ryan. The members of the committee are aware of enormous investments made in geothermal energy projects, some in or very close to the constituency of the Minister of State, Deputy Brady. Investors have put together all of the basics for the capturing of heat for district heating systems, but they must be granted authority to capture that heat because it would be delivered via land which may not be owned by the initiators of an project. It is similar to that of mining rights. Legislation must be introduced to cover the matter. I have been assured in the House on at least three or four occasions that its publication is only around the corner, but we have not yet seen it.

I will not go into the matter of climate change because the committee has raised it repeatedly. However, it is disappointed. It brought forward a report, this time driven by the Labour Party representative, Deputy McManus, who did significant work in support of Government policy. I have the report of the rapporteur for the committee which is in no way critical of the Government's position or divisive. Any person should jump to support it.

The position is unfair. The committee Chairman, Deputy Barrett, is scrupulous about ensuring the committee will not be used to undermine the Government and has been entirely fair. However, he shares my frustration and that of Senator Coffey and many other members of the committee, including those on the Government side, that we have not made progress on the matter.

I refer to the environmental issues raised by Government speakers. The issue of water quality in Galway was mentioned. People with access to swimming pools backwash the filters every couple of weeks or months. They use sand filters such as those used in one of the main water treatment facilities in Galway. I understand there was no such treatment in that place because of a management problem. In other words, the plant was using the same sand filter put in place in 1947 or 1948 which had never been upgraded, serviced or backwashed. Material was passing straight through the filter which might as well not have been in place.

On water charges, I ask Senator Boyle to point out to the relevant Ministers that the charge to be levied will not be for water which is free. One can go out with a bucket when it is raining and collect as much water as one wishes. One can put the bucket down a well or even dig one's own well. The charge will be for the delivery and treatment of water.