John Ellis (Fianna Fail)

I congratulate Senator Ó Brolcháin on his election to the House and I wish him well. I have no doubt he will make a tremendous contribution. It is also a big day for his party because it now has three Senators. As Senator Boyle pointed out, the party did not have representation in the Seanad until 2007; therefore, this result is to be welcomed, as it provides a wider political spectrum in the House.

I would like Members to express their sympathy to the family of the late Garda Gary McLoughlin who was a neighbour of mine. We express our deepest sympathy to his mother, Una, his father, Noel, his grandparents, brother and sister. His death is a tragic shock for them and their community. It shows us the danger gardaí face on a regular basis. Nobody is attributing anything to anyone at this stage, but it shows us the gardaí who look after our communities face enormous risks each time they put on the uniform and go to work. I would appreciate it, therefore, if Members expressed their sincere sympathy to the family. However, sympathy does not go very far because their loss will continue forever.

I ask the Leader to arrange a full debate in the House after Christmas on the recent floods. We need to do something to ensure the floods we saw in places such as Carrick on Shannon and in the Shannon basin towards south Galway and County Clare do not recur. Let us not forget about something just because it has passed. Let us remember that it could come back to haunt us. It may not happen next year, but it could in five or ten years time. We should try to ensure proper management of the River Shannon and that other rivers and streams will also be properly maintained.