Pat Moylan (Fianna Fail)

I welcome Ms Ahern to the House and compliment her on her work. While I might not always share her views, she has always expressed the views of a large number of people at the Parliament. Several MEPs have told me about the raft of legislation that comes before them. Can we make more use of the Irish members of the Committee of the Regions?

Regulations and laws have been foisted upon us in the past; I am thinking particularly of those on NHAs and SACs. A farmer may have valuable assets, such as an esker deposit of gravel, lying within such areas. While the reason for designation – perhaps an endangered species of flower – may lie within only a small part of a townland, the full townland must be designated. If a farmer's land is designated, he may lose his valuable asset. Legislation does not allow us to subdivide a townland or DED. Those are simply points I wish to make although I realise Ms Ahern will not be able to reply to them.