Seanad debates

Thursday, 1 July 2010

10:30 am

Photo of Ann OrmondeAnn Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I endorse the many points that have been raised on the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill. I was astounded by the decision that the amendments would not be introduced in this Chamber but in the Dáil Chamber. I compliment Senators Coffey, Cummins, Mullen and Senator O'Donovan on this side of the House for taking a stand and having the amendments brought forward. For the life of me I cannot understand why the amendments were not introduced into this Chamber. It does not make sense. It was an offence to all of us who were working on the ground on the issue and had a great knowledge of how the Bill was progressing in this House for the Bill to be transferred to the other House. I hope that when the Bill returns to the House that the amendments will be the ones introduced by the Opposition, which I had to vote against. I felt such a hypocrite in that situation.

I called for a debate on the planning guidelines, which I accept will not take place before the summer recess. The planning guidelines for one-off houses is important in terms of how we go about planning. The issue does not relate to planning per se but to planning guidelines. There are two separate issues. The Leader should not put the two together because they do not go together. We need a discussion on that issue.

The jury is out on another matter introduced by the Minister, Deputy Gormley, namely, landfill versus incinerators. That discussion is ongoing. It is important that we have a discussion on the matter in this Chamber. There are no fixed answers to the issue. I do not know where the hammer will come down but it would be useful to have a debate on the matter in this House.

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