Dan Boyle (Green Party)

——political system. It has been more talked about than done. The Senator gave the concrete example of the prescient Doherty report, upon which State authorities can and should act. The proposal that it be debated in the House is a valuable one, as it will help in taking further action.

Senator Alex White discussed the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, which has completed Committee Stage and will be taken on Report Stage next week, and the inclusion of measures regarding the discouragement of developments on flood plains. He made the apposite point that if the Bill can be strengthened in this regard, it should be. The House should take the opportunity to do so when the Bill reverts to it.

Senator Leyden highlighted the seriousness of flooding in the Shannon region and proposed the use of a fund by the Irish Red Cross, the designated body, for the alleviation of hardship. His suggestion will be put to the appropriate people and taken on board.

Senator John Paul Phelan made the link with the consequences of flooding for agriculture where farm incomes have already been badly hit. In this, he was joined by Senators Regan, Bradford and O'Reilly. A special debate in this regard has been requested. If this can be acceded to, it should be. The difficulty with debates at the end of a parliamentary session, as all Senators are aware, is that we already have a considerable legislation programme. We will be sitting more days and for longer until the end of this session. If we have an opportunity to schedule such a debate, I will see that Senators' views are taken on board.

Senator Ormonde discussed using the wisdom and experience of county managers and engineers. I would add the phrase "where such wisdom and experience exists". While Senator Buttimer pointed out that councillors should not be blamed for zoning, other levels of local government have responsibility for allowing planning permissions in flood plains. As a Legislature, we should not be slow in saying this and in examining how responsibility should be accorded through legislation. Early in the new year via the new local government Bill, we will have an opportunity to determine how county managers should be made more responsible and should take accountability for poor decisions.

Senator Quinn used the flooding as an analogy for taking greater collective and personal responsibility for our economic situation. He was joined by Senator Ó Murchú. Senator Quinn used the example of the divergence of Canada and Argentina during the past century in terms of their economic well-being. When we achieved independence in the early 1920s, we were considered wealthier than many Scandinavian countries. By the advent of the Celtic tiger, though, we were lagging behind them. As we recover from the Celtic tiger, there are many divergences between us and comparable European countries that we need to correct, as well as deal with the impact of the economic recession, but the point has been well made. The need for a debate about the wider sense of how we, as a society, can deal with these changes, outside of the debate we will be having next week on pre-budget statements, is something that will be given consideration.

Senator Hanafin, on flooding, spoke of the need for a national recovery plan, and how we might work in concert with the Cumbrian region, which suffered devastating consequences owing to the same weather patterns, and how this might help in terms of a joint application to the European Union. That is a proposal that will be sent to the appropriate people.

Senator Cummins asked for a debate on the Defence Force numbers and for the Minister for Defence to come into the Chamber. That is certainly something that will be taken on board.

The Senator also agreed with Senator Twomey on the need for a debate on violent crime, instancing the horrible event yesterday in County Wicklow where a shopkeeper needlessly lost his life as a result of protecting an employee and his business. In that, he was joined by Senator Glynn. The House would welcome such a debate. It is a question of timing and I would ask the Opposition groups in the Seanad that of the remaining Private Members' time remaining in this session, some thought be given to have debates on issues like this. There are demands for a Private Members' Bill and other issues to be addressed as well, but it would certainly help in having these issues addressed.

Senator Norris raised the equality infrastructure in terms of State agencies. I have some sympathy for that. We no longer have the Combat Poverty Agency, but the proposals that were being made on the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Equality Authority have been stymied, and both are still in place and being given additional resources.