James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will follow on from Senator Mullins's comments about respite care grants which I agree should be restored. As with all universal payments, those who can afford to do without, should do without and those who need it most, should get the payment. The same applies in the case of the children's allowance. I do not agree with those universal payments. Senator Mooney spoke about child care and child care costs. It is true that child care costs are exorbitant and they are putting families under serious pressure but instead of giving an extra €5 in the children's allowance to everybody, why not divert that money into early childhood care as a sensible option?

I was at a public meeting with over 700 people in attendance in Shanagolden hall last Thursday night. They are concerned about an American conglomerate which is coming to the area to build a €200 million gasification project. This was signed off by local area councillors from all the parties at local district level and it came before a full council meeting. My issue is that I think local government is being undermined by county management. They are manipulating the systems, pulling very important issues through local district level and putting them before a full council meeting to be voted through with debate lasting five minutes. The disposal notice was voted through without the knowledge of councillors in any of the other districts. We are told this project will bring in €4 million or €5 million per annum in rent for the council. It was signed off without any consultation with locals and without any concern for human or animal health in the area. Gasification does not fit with any of Ireland's 2020 targets. I would like to hear where Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin, in particular, stand on this environmental issue because they have all gone along with it at local level.