Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

That is the good news. The Fine Gael Party is in favour of the Bill. It will provide for the creation of a single national authority, which is important. The strong regional presence is imperative in the context of the remarks I made about the flooding, flood relief and flood protection. Common sense must prevail regarding landowners and home owners who have been seriously affected, as the Minister of State, Deputy White, is well aware. Her own town of Carlow has flooded in recent years.

I love the line in the Minister's contribution referring to stakeholders. Can we forget about the word "stakeholders" and talk about home owners, landowners and fishermen and women? Let us not call them stakeholders. Let us give them a name and an identity other than stakeholders, which is an anonymous label that looks great in a report but means nothing. I thank the Acting Chairman for his indulgence.