Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will not repeat what has been stated about the water issue. In the debate promised for next week, apart from the security of supply of water which is of critical importance to all citizens, the quality of the water coming through taps is an issue that has not been addressed fully. During the Second Stage debate in this Chamber I raised the issue of the fluoridation of water, which is endemic in Ireland. I understand we have the worst record in Europe. This issue should not be dropped. The answer provided at the time - that it was a matter for the Minister for Health - is not satisfactory.

I will outline my primary purpose in speaking today and note I do not intend to seek a vote on the subject of CAP reform and single farm payments. As Members seldom have a full and proper debate on the subject of farming and CAP reform and as the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, is due to come io the House next week, I ask the Deputy Leader to ensure this debate will be sufficiently long to enable Senators to speak in it. I accept that probably only 20% of Members from all sides have a particular interest in farming or its future. I ask, for example, that Opposition spokespeople be given at least 15 minutes to outline their case. This will not happen each month, as Members rarely have a proper and full debate on farming in this House. This proposal, with which the Minister has agreed in the European Union, will affect farming until 2020 and possibly beyond. Consequently, those Members who wish to contribute to the debate should be given full time. My suggestion to the Deputy Leader is that spokespersons be given 15 minutes and anyone else who wishes to speak be given ten minutes, if he or she so requires, and that the sharing of time be allowed. I do not want to have an hour and a half long debate, half of which will be taken up by the Minister. Many Members wish to contribute and have an interest in farming, rural Ireland and its protection and they should receive fair play in this regard.

I refer to the matter I raised yesterday and on which I forced a vote, namely, the single farm payment debacle and crisis that has been hitting rural Ireland. It has been affecting counties Cork and Kerry, in particular, and I am sure it will affect other parts. That is a separate issue and people should understand the reason I pushed it to a vote yesterday. The cuts with which these farmers have been hit for the past three or four months are a completely separate issue. In the course of the debate next week I hope the Minister can address it and will see to it that the farmers concerned will receive their payments and that some moratorium will be put in place in order that they will be able to get their farms and houses in order in the next 12 months. However, that matter which is a disgrace is a different issue from that of CAP reform.