Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I want to deal solely with the Shannon Callows flooding. This time last year, on foot of peak flooding at that time, it was agreed that a committee be put in place to make recommendations to the OPW as the lead agency in the management of that issue. That was agreed and put before the House but has not happened. Notwithstanding that, I am sure Mr. Smyth has seen the report. Can he respond to it? We are all frustrated, to say the least, that no progress has been made and no protocol has been put in place to deal with the issue, which arises on a regular basis at this time of year on foot of heavy rainfall. There is no protocol in place for the management of the levels associated with the Shannon, leading to the callows being flooded, which is expected in winter but not at this time or into the summer.

The fodder crisis in agriculture is exacerbated many-fold for those who live in this region. I ask Mr. Smyth to make a detailed response to the recommendations, which an all-party committee put in place. If difficulties arise from it, what are they and how can they be resolved? If there are funding difficulties, how much is it and how can it be resolved? The report has not been placed on the record of the House and the Minister with responsibility has yet to respond in that forum, despite the fact that this report was published last August. Can Mr. Smyth inform this committee as to how its recommendations can be adhered to, or if they cannot be adhered to, why not?

We are very disappointed, annoyed and frustrated that no progress has been made on this despite the OPW's being given authority as the lead agency in this area to formulate a response and put in place the protocols that can gain the respect and agreement of the stakeholders. Of all the stakeholders, those who suffer most and consistently, with their livelihoods being threatened to such an extent, are those callow farmers who live along the water's edge. This is an opportunity that has not arisen in the recent past, despite the fact that we have met the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brian Hayes and discussed this at length. There is unanimity on the part of the members here regarding the recommendations in that report.