Thanks for the reply but the facts are we do not have next winter or next autumn. This is now. Roscommon County Council was brought to court on emergency legislation the council has, a totally different thing from the habitats directive under emergency law. Under emergency law, a Government has a right if it sees an emergency, and this is an emergency. When the generators needed to go in when there was a danger of the country running out of power, the Minister, Deputy Ryan, was able to come in to the House and brin…

You do it.

We do not have time.

Talk to the Attorney General and the National Parks and Wildlife Service-----

-----because that emergency legislation, you can bring it in.

I thank you for your answers but ask you to please talk to them and get it in on Tuesday.

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the nature fund. Luckily for Irish farmers, the nature restoration law is being opposed because it has not been thought out. It is a damnable day, one I never thought I would see, that I would be thanking someone in Italy, Poland or, I think, Türkiye or wherever that Orbán fella is, for not supporting the nature restoration law being applied. Ironically enough, the farming organisations in this country made clear what they think about it. The problem is that they are not being …

On a personal level, I wish the outgoing Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, the best of luck in the future. This is not personal towards the new Taoiseach but I cannot support a Government that has a Minister who has gone to Brussels and left Irish farmers relying on Italy, the Dutch, and several other countries in regard to the nature restoration law. The Government will not listen to Irish farmers. This Government is supporting the approach. I saw in the headlines that the future Taoise…

I wish the Taoiseach well. It is not a personal thing, but I cannot support a Government that is pursing some of the policies that are being pursued. I ask the Taoiseach to hit the ground running. When he does that, the first place he might go, before he goes to Kerry, is Lough Funshinagh, County Roscommon. We are getting word this evening that the water is rising towards the nearby village. This is an emergency. In fairness to the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan - I wish him, the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, and all t…

Tomorrow or next week, because of a change introduced by the RSA, tractor drivers working on sites throughout the country will have to have lorry licences. This came up on a website on Tuesday night and it has caused consternation. It takes 14 months to get the two tests a person would need in order to comply with this. The Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, is aware of that and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, is aware of it. Will the Tánaiste get involved? Ministers are going abroad next week. Does the Tánaiste want t…

Will the Tánaiste get involved in this today to make sure before this week is out that this is reversed?

Either that or there are 4,000 people out of work and that is a fact.

You might be aware of it as well, but 4,000 people is a fair amount.

I know what it is.

The Ministers should know what it is doing.

So the lens of safety-----

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this. A few things need to be addressed. Earlier I heard reference to scaremongering. I hope it was not directed towards me because I was at the forefront of highlighting difficulties with the nature restoration law. I have dealt with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Department for many years and I would not like anybody to think this, because we got legal advice on it. This needs to be stated. I heard reference to the citizens' assembly. The facts are that six p…

In recent months, we have seen the devastation caused by flooding in Midleton. In fairness, the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Minister for enterprise and a whole host of Ministers visited the area where businesses and families were left devastated. Extra funding was given. However, long before Midleton there is a place that the Taoiseach's satnav did not seem to find. It is in County Roscommon and is called Lough Funshinagh. In fairness, the Minister with responsibility for the OPW and the Minister for agriculture visited i…

I am astounded the Taoiseach even read that out. That was everywhere. Everyone knows what Roscommon County Council said. The Taoiseach did not listen to the question I asked him. I ask about the power the Government has. Bear in mind that when this case was being taken internal documents reveal the Attorney General was going to take the part of the person taking the case against Roscommon County Council. Will the Taoiseach stand with his Minister of State? The money has been put aside and three quarters of the work…

It can bypass EU regulation with legislation in an emergency.