John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

Fine Gael is opposing the Order of Business. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to have a discussion on flooding today. Last week, the Leader indicated we would have a daily discussion on flooding. I do not know whether a daily discussion is necessary but to have a discussion on Friday while people's homes are under water today is not a sufficient reaction by the Seanad. Perhaps when the rest of today's business has concluded we can have a discussion on flooding.

Senator Healy Eames mentioned Dr. Clonan's comments in her contribution. The Government failed to enact its own disaster management plan. Last year, a booklet was produced and sent to each house in the country which clearly outlined what strategy the Government would put in place and gave the example of flooding when describing how the Government would react to a major disaster. It failed to have a Cabinet meeting and to implement many aspects of its plan. We should discuss this as soon as possible.

I was shocked to learn from a programme on RTE last night that one Department proposed a pilot project for dredging and cleaning rivers in the west while the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government stated it could not go ahead. Over the past 60 or 70 years we have failed to do anything to clean up rivers; bar work done by angling clubs and some landowners nothing is being done. We should undertake that work immediately.