Noel O'Donovan (Fine Gael)

I join my colleagues in commending the IFA and the farming community on the sheer show of force that was evident in Corrin Mart last night. As Members will know, I have spoken about derogation on many occasions in this Chamber on. Derogation is deeply and urgently required by the communities I represent in west Cork and in some other parts of the country. The European Commissioner is coming on Friday. She is coming to listen, hear and understand the unique system that we have in terms of our grass-based model. It is clear from the message that emanated from Corrin Mart last night that we need our derogation to stay. Our water quality is improving - it needs to improve further - but we are making an effort. Our farming community is making the strides necessary to improve water quality. We need to see the derogation remain in place for Ireland going forward.

Unfortunately, Bantry was flooded again last night. Up to ten businesses in the town were flooded.It is hard as a public representative to be getting calls from business owners and people living in the town, watching videos of them brushing out their businesses again and being asked why it has happened again. I want to be straight - Bantry has been the forgotten town in west Cork in terms of flood schemes. We have seen them delivered in Skibbereen, Clonakilty and Bandon, but Bantry has been forgotten about and politics has failed there in recent years. I also want to be clear to the people of Bantry that the overall flood scheme is coming in 2030 and 2031. In the meantime, a culvert will be developed in Bantry, which has now got planning permission as well as funding recently from the OPW to continue final design works. However, that is still a year or 18 months away. We need to keep the pressure on to make sure this is delivered for Bantry. Other representatives in west Cork and I cannot be taking phone calls from business people and individuals who have had their properties washed out. We need to keep the pressure on in Bantry. I understand and appreciate this is the Order of Business, but I will be putting down a Commencement matter on this issue as well because delivery is needed for this in Bantry today, not tomorrow.