Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Naughten for sharing time.

The River Shannon and its tributary, the River Suck, are very angry this evening. The floods have broken the banks and have spilled out over thousands of acres of farmland. That farmland was just getting into full production this month. The silt left behind this evening destroys the hay, the silage and the grass for the year.

A report of a joint Oireachtas committee of which I was a member and an OPW report in 2004 came up with certain proposals. We must be realistic because, economically, we cannot drain the Shannon. However, remedial works would be of great benefit, such as removing the silt that blocks the normal flow. There should be better management of the weirs, as well as a decent compensation package for the farmers of the Shannon callows. They are looking for it for nine years and I cannot understand why officials from the relevant Departments do not recognise the disadvantage suffered by those farmers.

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