Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity. I welcome Councillor Fallon and his colleagues. I salute the work he has been doing on this for a long time. He knows I have a lot of family in the area and more than a passing interest. I have met him there and met the original family who were flooded. I was down at their house and have been at a number of them. I know a lot about this.

The farmers should be compensated for their payments. It is a strange thing that an alleged effort to save biodiversity is actually damaging it. It is quite bizarre. I will not repeat the recommendations for the sake of time but the four points for the council should be dealt with. It is shocking people are out of their homes. There should be real intervention by the Government here. There should be support, financial, practical and moral, for all the residents. The pump should go ahead. Action should happen on this immediately.

I am here only to indicate support and I appreciate the opportunity to do so. I salute what our guests are doing. For what it is worth, I will do anything I can to assist within the Seanad and that is the case with Senators Murphy and Dolan also. I of course support the proposals of the various speakers earlier. I thank the Chair.