Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the proposers of tonight's Bill, which I welcome. I agree with many of those who have proposed it that it complements what we had sought in opposition. It also complements remarks I made six weeks ago, as a previous speaker noted, when I sought an intervention similar to that proposed to deal with the issues around the Shannon flood risk management agency. The response from the Government this evening and discussions I have had with officials with relevant expertise in the Department and the Minister illustrate that there is a political commitment and a recognition that the agency in its current form does not have the capacity to address this issue in the manner necessary. How could it be otherwise given that, as previous speakers noted, winter flooding is getting worse and summer flooding is now becoming the norm? In my constituency, some 200 farms in the Shannon Callows in west and south-west Offaly were under water in July. This is happening regularly and is no longer a once-off occurrence. Recently we have seen, through the best will and commitment in the world, efforts such as the CFRAM programme, an EU protocol, pilot pinch programmes and works, and selective flooding through the opening of gates at time.

Some of those proposing the Bill spoke of how the agency had potential in its infancy. That potential cannot be realised unless the agency has sufficient statutory powers. We must pass the legislation necessary to give it those powers and provide for accountability. I compliment and note the constructive contributions of other Members, including Deputy Canney who has much expertise in this area having been a Minister of State in the Department. They recognised the potential in the Government's response to the Bill. In acknowledging the contributions of Deputies, I encourage everyone with responsibilities in this area, not only Deputies but also the relevant stakeholders, including the existing agency, to collaborate and meet the commitment set out in the Minister of State's statement. That would give this Dáil an opportunity to resolve this issue in an amicable way which meets all our approval. I hope that giving the authority the necessary powers will have the desired impact.

My party spent nine years in opposition. We are now in government and in a position where we might leave office having achieved a goal set by my party in the motions referred to earlier and recording a success in this area. As Deputy Fitzmaurice said, it is not as if we are going to drain the Shannon in the next nine months. There is potential for an all-party commitment and ownership among the parties and those with responsibility at ministerial and Government level. We are in a position to achieve progress on Committee Stage. We can all be associated with that progress and sell it to our constituents who for too long have been left with no prospect of unity of purpose among all those who have responsibility for achieving success.

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