IRELAND NEEDS to get its act together to ensure people can “simply enjoy . . . a good night’s sleep”, said Minister for the Environment John Gormley as he pledged to publish noise pollution legislation before the summer.

Mr Gormley told the Dáil the legislation would emphasise codes of practice for construction, commercial and domestic situations.

“Local authorities will have stronger enforcement powers to deal with nuisances form particular noise sources such as continuously sounding alarms, and I also see the need to extend the powers of the Garda in certain circumstances,” he said.

Fine Gael spokesman Phil Hogan asked when the legislation would be implemented.

Mr Gormley hopes to publish the Bill before the summer, following a consultation process that involved 235 submissions, “which shows there is significant public interest in this.”

“Stricter laws governing noise are in force in European countries and it is time we got our act together to ensure people can simply enjoy, in some cases, a good night’s sleep.”

Labour spokesman Ciarán Lynch said there were people living in areas where motorways had subsequently been built before sound barrier regulations were in place. “People cannot go out into their back gardens because there is a four-lane highway at the end of the garden and no noise barriers or noise insulation measures have been installed.” The Minister said it was a “retrospective problem” he would deal with separately.