Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I support the motion and thank Sinn Féin for tabling it. This is an important matter.

The protestors today were an orderly and large crowd, but the anguish on their faces said it all. This afternoon, the Taoiseach asked why people did not go after quarries or other entities, but the Government should give them 100% because they do not have the wherewithal to take anyone to court to get redress. If the Government believes that someone is escaping the net but should be playing a role, let it go after him or her. In the first instance, though, it must give the affected people 100%. Giving 90% was only codding them. They would end up paying 40% or 50% because of a loophole. It was suggested that they should get an engineer's report. We deal with engineers every day of the week and we know what they charge. They would have to charge a hefty bill. The people affected by this issue do not have that kind of money. The Minister of State must realise that.

When anything happens in Dublin, the Government sees to it right away. There was one shower of rain here a few years back and the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, put on his wellingtons, went out and sorted out the situation, but a flood could be flowing in through our front door and out through the back door and no one would look at us. We would have to fight flat on our backs to get flood relief for Glenflesk or anywhere else or to be allowed to cut a few bushes, which the Government would not let us do.

I appeal to the Minister of State now. We all heard the songs of Bridie Gallagher in Jackie Healy-Rae's Bar in Kilgarvan 30 or 40 years ago. She sang eloquently about the homes of Donegal. It is a fright to God if we are going to let the homes of Donegal fall down on the ground around people now. We have to play our part, as must the Government.

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