Denis Landy (Labour)

I am of the view that what we have been presented with here is ridiculous. Senator Wilson was described earlier as the expert on the Cavan model. It is obvious that the Cavan model should be consigned to one of the lakes in that county because it is absolutely disastrous for the people who live there. In his expert description and analysis of the scheme, Senator Wilson neglected to mention the most important element, namely, the charge imposed on the people of Cavan. Earlier, I described the Senator as an eminent expert. When he spoke, we expected that he would provide us with full details of the scheme. However, he did not do so. As a result, his entire argument is flawed and it will be extremely difficult to sit here for another three or four hours and listen to the debate on later amendments.

In the context of the Cavan model, the Senator referred to desludging being paid for by residents or those who own houses. His colleague urged the Minister to introduce free desludging. The Cavan model has been put forward as the greatest thing since sliced bread but the residents of that county have been asked to pay for their homes to be desludged. This is absolutely laughable.