Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte ar ais roimh Sheanadóirí. I dtosach báire, ba mhaith liom tacú leis an leasú atá molta ag mo chomhghleacaí, an Seanadóir Cullinane, go mbeadh uair a chloig againn inniu le plé a dhéanamh ar Uisce Éireann agus an praiseach a bhaineann le sin.

I concur with the Senators who have called for a debate on the fall-out after the storms. Massive damage has been done along the west coast. I still find it surprising that no Government Minister has been to visit any of the areas in question. It would have been very useful to see the major clean-up operation that has been going on. Much work had to be done. I was very lucky to be on Inis Oírr yesterday for the launch of the report of the Oireachtas Joint Sub-Committee on Fisheries about rejuvenating rural communities. The Minister has agreed to have a debate on fisheries as soon as possible and hopefully that can be brought forward and the report might form the basis of the debate. It was a very good report and was welcomed by many people from different areas.

Fishermen were hit very badly by the storms and I have tabled an Adjournment motion on that issue. Another group affected by the storms that did not get much publicity is a group of residents in direct provision in the Eglinton Hotel in Salthill, Galway, who were totally surrounded by water during the floods. On the legislation list published I note that the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2010 is still in limbo. It has been on Committee Stage since 2010 and there is no indication as to when that will be brought forward. Could the Leader find out if that Bill will be progressed in the near future? As people would have seen on "Prime Time" recently, not only is the Bill in limbo, but the people living in direct provision are also in limbo. We must address this as a matter of urgency.