asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of the considerable losses suffered by farmers in County Mayo as a result of the flooding of the Rivers Moy, Robe, Gloir, Dalgan, Blackwater, Lung and its tributaries in East Mayo, and of other rivers and their tributaries in the county; if he will make a statement regarding his intention to implement the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945, to alleviate the conditions of the many small farmers affected; and if he will give an explanation of the delay in giving effect to legislation passed three years ago.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flooding of County Mayo Rivers.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply given on 6th November, 1946, to a similar question by him to which I have nothing to add.
Will the Minister state the reason why the Drainage Act, 1945, has not been implemented? The legislation is now three years old, and, on the last occasion on which they had the privilege of appearing before the public, in the 1944 General Election, the Minister and his colleagues accused us of preventing the implementation of the scheme. This scheme has been shoved into a pigeon-hole and we hear nothing about it. Are we to wait until the next general election for the Government to tell the people that, if they elect them, they will implement the drainage scheme or is it all mere cod?
Oh, no; they will tell them that all right.
Read my speeches on the Drainage Bill and see whether there is anything misleading in them or not.