Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Horan and Mr. Thompson to this afternoon's meeting. Like Deputy Kelleher, I would like to impress on the joint committee the importance of reaching finality with regard to the Cork flooding of November 2009. As the first person to call for an independent investigation into that episode, I hold firm to the view that we have yet to get proper answers. Why has the federation not asked its members to go after the ESB? Like Deputy Kelleher, I have a view on that aspect of the matter. I am worried that an incident similar to the flooding that happened in the Middle Parish area of Cork could happen again. We have not yet received adequate answers from the ESB regarding its role in that event. I am aware that representatives of the ESB appeared before a committee in the previous Dáil. Some questions have yet to be answered. Why have they not been challenged on this matter by the insurance companies?

I was amused to hear the witnesses say that insurance has decreased by 4%. I would like to see real evidence of that. It is news to my ears. While I welcome what was said about affordable insurance, I do not see evidence of it in the cases of people in Cork who have suffered as a consequence of flooding. The gargantuan premium increases have been unacceptable. The people whose houses have been flooded are being asked to foot the bill. There has been no engagement with the ESB or the county councils. In the case of last summer's flooding in the Douglas area of Cork, it is clear that there was an issue with a grille. Perhaps I am speaking in a vacuum in that case because a report on it has not yet been published. There does not seem to be a link between the local authorities and the Irish Insurance Federation. It was mentioned that the federation did not start engaging with the OPW until January of this year. It does not make sense that it did not start before now.

We need more than negotiation. Surely there is an obligation on the insurers and those representing the insurers to talk to the county councils, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the OPW regarding the clearing of drains and the operation of flood defence measures. It seems to me that the innocent victim is not recognised in all of this. I agree with what the witnesses said about some of the stuff that has been built on flood plains, but we cannot blame the home owner or the business person who bought a home or a business in such an area. They were merely trying to buy a home or a business. During the planning application process, did the members of the federation inform the local authority that these developments should not be allowed to go ahead because they were on flood plains? As a public representative, the system seems to be weighed against the home owner or the business person.

I would like to speak briefly about geo-coding. I have an office on Glasheen Road near University College Cork. I accept that the witnesses are probably not familiar with the area. I am 46 years of age and I have never seen a flood in the area. Letters have been sent to local residents telling them their houses are on flood plains. I do not buy that argument. I have never seen water lodge anywhere along the road. It is quite elevated. Similarly, people in the Bishopstown area of Cork, where I live, are being refused insurance or being given gargantuan insurance quotes because of subsidence. I appreciate that subsidence is not on today's agenda. Many people have been told to shop around, which is fine. People in their 70s might not have the computer skills to do so online. If they try to shop around by telephone, they are told to press line 2 or line 3 before they get to talk to an agent. People living in areas like Uam Var, Benvoirlich, The Rise and Curraheen Road have been told their quotes will be increased, or have not been given any quotes at all, because they live in high subsidence areas.

Deputy Kelleher was right when he suggested that a person's house is worthless if it is not insured. I do not know how we have arrived at a "one size fits all" situation with regard to subsidence. People who got their houses fixed, if I can use that term, and have not made any claims for the last 25 or 30 years are still being told they will not be given any quote unless they pay a certain cost. We should not victimise the person whose property has been flooded. I accept there might have to be an increased premium level if it is an ongoing issue. Do the insurers think they have treated the people of the Middle Parish and the people of Glanmire fairly? I honestly do not think fairness has been exhibited in some cases. I have seen evidence of this. Premiums have gone through the roof, people have been refused cover and claims have been questioned. I accept that insurers have a role in questioning claims. I will conclude by saying I hope we do not go down the road of saying to people that they cannot get insurance as a result of the only flood to have taken place in their area in the last 50 or 100 years. I thank the witnesses.