Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I move:

That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to co-ordinate the activities of authorities, agencies, and bodies connected with the protection, conservation, management, water management and control of pollution of the Shannon River catchment, to establish a body to be known as the Shannon River Agency, to define its functions, and to provide for other matters connected with the matters aforesaid.

I welcome the opportunity to introduce this Bill. The devastation and havoc heaped upon our citizens over the past seven weeks and the slow response from Government have clearly demonstrated the urgent need for a single authority, with a statutory basis, to co-ordinate the management of the River Shannon. It is the longest river in the British Isles, stretching for 360 km and touching 18 counties. Numerous agencies and competing interests are involved in its management, including the ESB, Bord na Móna, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Waterways Ireland. Each of these agencies has shown in the past that it will prioritise its own interests ahead of the common interest.

That can no longer be allowed to continue. We cannot again have a situation where it takes the Taoiseach six weeks to bring all the agencies together. Now that is finally done, we must wait a further two weeks to hear what the terms and conditions of the co-ordinating group will be. The group will not be established on a statutory basis and will, therefore, lack sufficient powers to deal effectively with the management of the river and direct and manage the multiple agencies currently overseeing that function. Anecdotal evidence suggests the National Parks and Wildlife Service puts the preservation of the corncrake ahead of the welfare of citizens living along the banks of the Shannon. The ESB manipulates water levels to ensure its power stations operate at their greatest efficiencies. As recently as last October, Lough Ree was at its lowest level on record. Bord na Móna continued to pump excess water into the Shannon while properties in Athlone were flooding.

The Government is simply copying the model of the 1989 River Shannon Forum, which a subsequent Government, led by Fine Gael, scrapped in 1994. It is deeply disappointing that the Government is ignoring the local community in the Shannon region. People living there have made abundantly clear what is needed to manage the river and prevent further flooding.

These are the people who are there, day in, day out, and have intimate local knowledge. Not only has the community along the Shannon made it abundantly clear, but one of the Taoiseach's own Government backbenchers said in relation to a previous flooding that conditions in flooded areas each year made it imperative that a single statutory agency be established. The difference is that he was in opposition when he made that statement and now that he is in government, he seems to have a different view.

This Bill creates a single agency to manage the river Shannon. The agency will be based in Athlone and will administer the river to help cut through the bureaucratic silos that have developed across the various agencies. It will develop a new river management plan in conjunction with other bodies that have the legislative authority to make decisions. Issues such as flood preparation, emergency action and developing the river as a major recreation and tourism resource will be its core duties. The Government argued this legislation would take too long and that the Shannon co-ordination group would suffice. I remind the Taoiseach that we sat here one morning until 5 a.m. to debate the liquidation of the IBRC. This is an emergency and if there were a political will to introduce legislation, it could be done.

I thank the many people who worked voluntarily. If it were not for the voluntary effort, scores more houses would have been flooded. Why did it take six weeks for the Army to be called in to man the pumps? The men and women were willing and had the capacity to do so much earlier. The Taoiseach visited and he saw the destruction, devastation, frustration and heartbreak of all the people who were directly affected by this. This is an opportunity for all of us in this House to set aside politics as usual. It is an opportunity to treat this issue as the national emergency that it is and to leave in place a lasting solution for all our citizens, and to ensure this issue remains a priority and no families ever have to live through this again.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Is the Bill opposed?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Troy asked that this-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I have to let you in now with Deputy Troy-----

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----not be political, yet he made a very political speech.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Is this in order?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I remind him that the 129 corncrakes have vanished from the Shannon callows because of summer floods-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I have allowed the Taoiseach in on the last-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It has never happened before. I do not think it is on.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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-----not because of anything to do with the habitats directive.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Troy had asked some questions. Perhaps the Taoiseach will answer them.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Second, the ESB levels are determined by Lough Derg and by nothing else. Obviously, water will flow to its own level.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is completely out of order that the Taoiseach should be commenting on the moving of a Private Members' Bill. It is out of order.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Third, there are 29 billion litres of water in flooded bogs at the moment and more will come onstream, literally, as Bord na Móna moves out of the milling of peat and that area. It has been clarified both by the European Commission and by the National Parks and Wildlife Service that in an emergency where people, their property or their livelihoods are affected, action can be taken. We want these waters to subside somewhat before that can happen. This Bill is not being opposed and I repeat for Deputy Troy that his Bill seems to be a direct copy of what Deputy Penrose brought in here ten years ago.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy was against it then, when he was in government.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The terms of reference for the co-ordination group for the Shannon will be published next week.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On a point of order, the Taoiseach is deliberately abusing the Standing Orders of the House.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am not.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Bill is not being opposed.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach is abusing them. He has no right to do what he is doing.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is very good at it himself, making up the laws as he goes on.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Troy made all sorts of comments.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Could I have order, please? As the Bill is not being opposed, I declare the motion for leave to introduce agreed.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Taoiseach is out of order. He is abusing Standing Orders.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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He has no right to do it.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will therefore move that Second Stage be taken in Private Members' time.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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How is the Deputy's billboard going?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Sorry?

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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How is his billboard?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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How is the what?

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The billboard.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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They would not even put the Deputy on a billboard.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is going very well.

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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After four years in opposition, he could not put himself up on a poster.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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It is not him who is afraid to go on television, Deputy Buttimer.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy does not look bad on the back of a bus.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Vincent Browne.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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If we could have order, please, we are going on to the next item-----

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The back of a bus is probably the right place for Deputy Buttimer.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Please, could I have order?

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I did not hear much talk from the Deputy below in Athlone.