Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I object to the Order of Business. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that the Dáil sits until 9.50 p.m. and that we have a three-hour debate on the consequences of flooding, including 30 minutes of questions and answers with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Fine Gael will set aside its Private Member's time between 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m., No. 43. should be taken for 80 minutes from 8.30 p.m. and the debate on agriculture should be postponed until Thursday. I do not want this to be like the landings at Dunkirk.

This is a matter of extreme importance to people. We have listened on umpteen occasions to members of the Government talking about Dáil reform. As we sit in the comfort of this leather lined Chamber, people are under five feet of water in their homes, businesses and on their farms. This reflects a gulf, which is filled with anger and misgiving because Government support has evaporated. Today is the halfway point of the Government, which took up office on 24 May 2007. Its integrity is in shreds, its credibility is in tatters and it has lost the moral authority to lead.

If the Government cannot respond in this House to give Members, who represent farmers, housewives, young people and everybody else, the opportunity to speak up and give the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Government the facts of life from village, town and city, then we will have failed in our duty. We talk about Dáil reform. Here is an opportunity to allow for a three-hour debate led off by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Every Member should have ten minutes, which would be followed by a question and answer session, to give the Minister further information in order that he would have a more complete and deeper analysis of what is happening. If we are not able to do that, the House will have failed in its duty to people who this evening are in darkness and who are worried, concerned and anxious because they do not know where the next flood will come from or what will happen.

Despite the good work of the emergency services and the local authorities, it is an important function in our democracy that the representatives of the people in the House of Parliament be enabled to speak out on an issue that is unprecedented and that is a once in 800 years happening. The River Shannon is a foot and a half higher than it was in 1954.

If the Ceann Comhairle thinks this is not worthy of consideration under Standing Order 32, I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that Deputies from the Fianna Fáil Party, the Green Party, the Labour Party, the Fine Gael Party, Independent Members and Sinn Féin be enabled to speak out and inform the Minister and Government of how important a matter this is.

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