John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would have thought that by now we in this country would have learned the consequences of turning a blind eye. We have seen in no uncertain terms what happens when we have light-touch regulation in the financial services sector, and we are all still paying the price for it, as the previous Senator stated, and we will continue to do so. We have also seen what happens when we have lax or no regulation in the charities sector and this particular can of worms continues to unfold and unravel.
I ask the Leader for his assistance in facilitating a debate. This country will rue the day we continued to turn a blind eye and allowed the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, to continue its lazy laissez-fairelax and light-touch regulation regarding facilities throughout the country. This is not just a Portlaoise issue. I have been contacted by people from Askeaton, Tynagh, Kerdiffstown and Shannon who all have the same story to tell. The EPA is a law unto itself.