Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to start by agreeing with Senators Wall and Craughwell on addressing the terms and conditions affecting those in the Defence Forces, who are the worst paid members of the public service. A role has to be found for PDFORRA as part of the discussion, because this issue has being going on for far too long and it is important that it is addressed.

I agree with Senator Mullen around the need for debate on the future of the technological university sector. I do not know whether it is appropriate to have it right now but certainly in following on from Senator Ahearn's comments, it is essential. The motion regarding the creation of the Munster technological university, which is scheduled to be taken without debate, is extremely welcome. l look forward to the south east having a technological university in the near future but it would be important to have a major debate on the future of our higher education sector in this House, including the role of lifelong learning.

Members will be aware that the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, published a quite comprehensive and worrying report this morning on the state of the Irish environment. There are many aspects that we could debate and discuss in this House but I particularly want to focus on questions around air quality. It is clear that there continue to be problems in respect of good air quality in Ireland. At Government level, there is a commitment to introducing clean air legislation and that needs to be fast-tracked. Given that there is supposed to be a ban in place on the burning of smoky coals, I looked at the statistics for last weekend. The WHO has stated that safe levels are those of 15 particles per 1 million or fewer. In Enniscorthy last weekend, the levels were 94.76 particles per 1 million, and in Wexford, where there has been a ban supposedly in place for many years, the levels were 122.34 particles per 1 million. This is replicated all over the country. The reality is that we do not have clean air in this country and it is having a serious impact upon those with respiratory illnesses and diseases. The clean air legislation needs to be introduced as soon as possible.