With regard to the Minerals Development Bill and the environmental liability Bill, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the fisheries boards will have to recognise that cleaning out rivers is of paramount importance. Allowances will have to made in order that farmers can clean out rivers, which will alleviate much of the flooding.

To what legislation is the Deputy referring?

The Minerals Development Bill and the environmental liability Bill. The Taoiseach knows what I am talking about. Since the cleaning of rivers has stopped, there has been an increase in flooding.

The Deputy made his point.

The Minerals Development Bill was published last July and is awaiting Second Stage. I cannot foresee it being dealt with before the recess. With regard to fisheries boards and cleaning out rivers, a number of State agencies are involved in these matters-----

They need to wake up to reality.

-----and, as the Deputy knows, it can be quite difficult to get agreement on the best thing to do.

Lives are more important than fish.