Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish the Taoiseach well. It is not a personal thing, but I cannot support a Government that is pursing some of the policies that are being pursued. I ask the Taoiseach to hit the ground running. When he does that, the first place he might go, before he goes to Kerry, is Lough Funshinagh, County Roscommon. We are getting word this evening that the water is rising towards the nearby village. This is an emergency. In fairness to the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan - I wish him, the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, and all the other the Ministers well - he has done his best but this will take the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the leader of the Green Party coming in here with legislation. This is critical.

I am not lone in saying that. Everything Deputy Denis Naughten said is correct, as is everything Deputy Kerrane said. We are representatives in that area. There are elderly people who look out and the water is higher than where they sit when they are in their kitchen. That is a fact; it is no lie. Another house was lost. Pumps were put in place at two more houses today. This is not us coming into the Dáil and saying things just to be popular. I ask that the first thing the Taoiseach does is get those people sorted. It is a designated area. The designation is dying on his feet. The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, will agree with what I am saying. It is there for anyone to see. You do not need to be a scientist.

There is a pushback in Europe against the nature restoration law. I ask the Taoiseach to look at that. The Green Party Ministers are saying that we need to bring it in, but why are the Dutch and the Poles against it? Why has it been held up? It has gone through the Parliament, but countries have discovered the consequences of it. We have flooding in Roscommon. My God, if this goes through, parts of the west of Ireland will be in real trouble. I am not being alarmist; I am saying this is because we are from the soil. We live on the soil and know the consequences of what can happen. I ask the Taoiseach to please look at that matter. I wish him and all his Ministers the best of luck.

The other thing that needs to be done in respect of the agricultural sector is for farmer bashing to stop. There is a derogation. I want to let Michael McNamara talk.

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