Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

It is not irrelevant but very real. In fact, it is very important. What is the component of what is protected? What unintended consequences and what issues could potentially arise from this matter? These are very real questions. As regards property rights, which are also protected in the Constitution, there are issues for same.

Let us remember what I said earlier on what is in the Constitution, what usually falls in the Constitution and what does not. If we did this, should we not be doing it for many other areas? I do not ask the following in jest. Should we be doing it in relation to roads, CIE, bogs and a whole range of other areas? Potentially the same argument, in many ways, would stand up for one issue as for another but perhaps not to the same degree because I accept and understand that we cannot live without water and air. I still must pose the question.

The argument has been well made in terms of the surrounding issues say in 20, 30 or 40 years' time.