Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No 13:

In page 15, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following:“(c) consult with learned bodies such as the Royal Irish Academy, the Royal Dublin Society, departments of environmental science in institutions of higher education, An Taisce, Friends of the Earth, the Mary Robinson Foundation and other environmental organisations.”.

My amendment proposes to add a new subsection (c) so that the advisory council will consult with learned bodies. Given that the advisory body, by public statement of environmentalists is overloaded with economists, my concern is about the four ex officiomembers, where the academic community in environmental science has been ignored. Could we at least at the consultations stage ensure that the advisory council should consult people who have raised our consciousness about this and have worked so hard in the field?

The composition of the advisory body was unrepresentative. I would prefer the environmental bodies to be on the main council but if not, at least let us talk to them and not have them marginalised and excluded. The Royal Irish Academy has a record in this field, which has not been recognised in the composition of the advisory council. The Royal Dublin Society is one of the oldest scientific learned societies in the world and has an environmental science department. I have heard a significant level of negative comment about the fact that well known people who have been campaigning, researching and publishing in this field have been ignored by the Department. That is wrong. In a recent edition of Kerry's Eye, the Kerry County Manager praises An Taisce for the role it plays in protecting the environment of our most scenic of counties. Many people regard such bodies as Friends of the Earth and the Mary Robinson Foundation as a nuisance but I do not regard them as a nuisance.

This is not an internal matter for bureaucrats to deliberate. Society as a whole is concerned and should have been involved. I admire what environmentalists have done in this country, but a lot of it has been an uphill struggle. Let us include them in the legislation. The more people we talk to the better. We have examples of this in Northern Ireland. What Morgan Kelly had to say about banking was ignored and look what happened. Let us include all the bodies I have mentioned in my amendment and let us listen to them.

The Minister of State has been generous in tabling amendments that involve the Seanad but the bodies I have enumerated in this amendment are a valuable part of our democracy and should not have been overlooked. Let us remedy that now by accepting my amendment.