Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

Even before Mr. John Gormley became Minister for the Environment, the former Minister, Mr. Dick Roche, made sure that the Poolbeg project would go ahead and that Mr. Gormley could not do anything about it. I have an option. I can put my head in the sand, which I am not prepared to do, and expose the taxpayer to a €357 million breach of contract or fines imposed by the European Commission. I am not prepared to put more charges on ordinary people.