James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

No matter on which side of the climate change debate one comes down, whether one considers it is causing global warming or global cooling, the clear message is that action must be taken. Whether climate change is a man-made crisis or part of cyclical climate patterns, the results, as we are seeing in terms of unprecedented flooding in this country, are worrying and could become catastrophic. That is the situation when I visited many townlands in my constituency in close proximity to the Shannon at the weekend where there were farms flooded to a depth of four to six feet and people had to leave their homes and take up residence in local hotels. I hope the Minister, Deputy John Gormley, will be able to give some support to those people as time goes by because the difficulty is unlikely to abate before Christmas.

What each side of the debate expects but is failing to get from the Government is co-operation and input. It is a farce that there is no firm commitment from the Government on when the much needed climate change Bill will be published. While it is simplistic to blame the flooding of the past couple of weeks on climate change, flooding has been a feature of Ireland, particularly in the west and midlands, throughout our history.

As we know to our cost in the Midlands, floods are part of the river process and will be well into the future. Fine Gael is fully committed to tackling the causes and effects of climate change. This commitment has led to the creation of the most far-reaching green policy ever produced in this country. The emphasis is on targets allied with action.

The Fianna Fáil-Green Government - particularly its so-called Green members - have shown that they can talk the talk but, as we know, promises come easily, especially on the doorsteps at election time. The follow-up is conspicuously absent, however.

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