Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)

I move:

That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to reduce restrictions on the power of the Electricity Supply Board to carry out works concerning the levels on the Shannon Lakes (Lough Derg, Lough Ree and Lough Allen), to amend the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1934 and to provide for related matters.

I thank the Leader for allowing me to move the Bill this evening. It does not pretend to solve on its own the issues with River Shannon flooding. Rather, it is a practical legislative vehicle to clear out obsolete constraints, update key provisions and signal the intention of the Oireachtas to bring the Shannon regime into the 21st century. It is intended as a concrete first step in aligning the legislative code with how the river is managed in the 21st century. Senator Daly and I look forward to the Second Stage debate on Thursday afternoon.