James Heffernan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

People's livelihoods have been destroyed. I have seen evidence of questionable practice where people's health has been put severely at risk by that polluter in that area. The Environmental Protection Agency gave it a licence requiring a bond in case of a major catastrophe involving its waste ponds. That section of the licence agreement was subsequently deleted and a licence without any bond was granted. I do not trust the EPA or its director general. I do not have any faith in what the EPA does while the EPA is still protected by legislative immunity, which the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has failed to tackle on a number of occasions.

The Minister now plans to appoint somebody who was appointed from the incineration industry to the advisory body that is supposed to protect people from emissions. It does not stack up and it is wrong that these yes-men, company-men and insiders, who have been operating very questionable practices under the Department's watch, will now be on an advisory council that tells us what is best for the environment when they have clearly failed communities throughout the country in their obligations on what is good for the environment.

I have made the Minister of State aware of another potential issue coming down the tracks which the Department needs to take seriously. I refer to the proposed gasification unit in my constituency. That will cause serious trouble for the Department, as it is causing locally already. The Department has been warned of this, but it has failed to take action. I do not trust any of those CEOs or directors general as having better knowledge than people on the coalface or those scientists with publications whom Senator Barrett mentioned earlier. Having insiders, yes-men and company-men on the advisory council undermines the advice that will be given to Government.

I am dismayed and we will press the amendment to a vote. The ultimate failure of this legislation is having insiders again calling the shots.