Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to speak to the amendments to which I am a co-signatory, particularly amendment No. 21. Who is the Minister to take away the well-being and health of local residents at the stroke of a pen and absolutely dismiss their distress, physical and emotional health and well-being? In so doing he is ignoring the World Health Organization guidelines on noise, particularly at night. Amendment No. 21 is a no-brainer. It states, "The competent authority shall direct the airport authority to ensure that average noise exposure at night is reduced below 40dB Lnight, such levels to be revised in accordance with WHO guidelines". Does the Minister believe the WHO guidelines are incorrect? Does he think the WHO put them in place for the good of its health? It certainly put them in place for the good of communities such as those which surround Dublin Airport. I met the residents of those communities. They are red-eyed, weary and on sleeping tablets. Their children are driven demented at night and sick for school during the day. They have no peace. One's home is one's castle. It is the place where one goes for rest, quiet and recuperation and to feel secure. That is not the case in communities surrounding Dublin Airport such as St. Margaret's, The Ward and other areas, the representatives of which have contacted Sinn Féin on this issue.

I will not give the Minister a bye on this issue and certainly will not give a bye to Fianna Fáil. I do not know what it was doing. Where are its Senators? What were they doing when they voted against a Sinn Féin amendment to the Order of Business by electronic means and in a walk-through vote? Then they did not know what they were doing when agreeing to the Order of Business. First they first voted "Níl" which suddenly became "Tá". Shame on them.

The Minister is rushing the Bill through. Much legislation that originates in the Seanad is delayed and kicked down the road. However, in this case the Minister is upping the ante and we, as legislators, have no choice but to go along with it because the Minister, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have decided that the Bill must be rushed through against the norms and values of democracy. The people own the country. The Minister is not respecting that fact. I am not sure why he is pushing the Bill through. I can only hazard a guess at his motivation.